Press Release: Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance Announces Third Quarter 2025 Financial Results

Dow Jones11-04

CHICAGO, Nov. 04, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ: REFI) ("Chicago Atlantic" or the "Company"), a commercial mortgage real estate investment trust, today announced its results for the quarter ended September 30, 2025.

Peter Sack, Co-Chief Executive Officer, noted, "Our loan portfolio and earnings performance this quarter continue to benefit from a focus on proven operators in limited-license states, strong underwriting, and disciplined deployment of available liquidity. We also remain well-insulated from potential adjustments in the Prime rate with 86% of our current loans structured with interest rate floors greater than or equal to the prevailing Prime rate. With a strong pace of originations during the quarter, a pipeline of over $415 million in new opportunities, and management of our upcoming maturities, we are on track to generate net growth in the loan portfolio for 2025. Our focus is on delivering strong, risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders, and we reinforced that commitment once again through recent purchases of the Company's stock in the open market."

Results of Operations

 
                                           For the three months ended 
                 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 
                     September 30, 2025           June 30, 2025          September 30, 2024 
                 --------------------------  -----------------------  ------------------------- 
                                     Per                        Per                       Per 
                 Total Amount       Share    Total Amount      Share  Total Amount       Share 
                 ------------      --------  ------------      -----  ------------      ------- 
OPERATING 
RESULTS 
Net interest 
 income          $ 13,685,274      $   0.64  $ 14,424,987      $0.67  $ 14,459,393      $  0.72 
Total expenses 
 before 
 provision for 
 expected 
 credit losses   $  4,193,515      $   0.20  $  4,565,322      $0.21  $  4,237,354      $  0.21 
Net income -- 
 diluted         $  8,934,539      $   0.42  $  8,877,375      $0.41  $ 11,211,636      $  0.56 
(Benefit) 
 provision for 
 current 
 expected 
 credit losses   $    557,220      $   0.03  $  1,147,290      $0.05  $   (989,597)     $ (0.05) 
Distributable 
 earnings -- 
 basic           $ 10,522,142      $   0.50  $ 10,850,941      $0.52  $ 11,159,241      $  0.57 
Diluted 
 weighted 
 average shares 
 of common 
 stock 
 outstanding       21,485,776            --    21,487,106         --    20,058,417           -- 
Regular 
 dividends 
 declared (per 
 share)                    --      $   0.47            --      $0.47            --      $  0.47 
 
PORTFOLIO 
PERFORMANCE 
Total loan 
 principal 
 outstanding     $399,948,492                $421,918,148             $356,285,780 
Portfolio 
 companies                 26                          30                       29 
Unfunded 
 commitments     $ 29,761,667                $ 16,595,000             $  6,000,000 
Gross unlevered 
 weighted 
 average yield 
 to maturity             16.5%                       16.8%                    18.2% 
Aggregate loan 
 portfolio 
 bearing a 
 variable 
 interest rate           63.3%                       59.3%                    62.2% 
Book value per 
 share           $      14.71                $      14.71             $      15.05 
Debt/equity 
 ratio                   32.8%                       38.8%                    18.3% 
 

Subsequent Portfolio Activity

   -- During the subsequent period from October 1, 2025, to November 4, 2025, 
      the Company advanced approximately $3.3 million to existing borrowers on 
      delayed draw term loan facilities. 

Capital Activity

   -- As of September 30, 2025, the Company had approximately $101.7 million of 
      total leverage, comprised of $52.4 million drawn on the Revolving Loan 
      and $49.3 million, at carrying value, of notes payable due 2028. 
   -- On August 5, 2025, Chicago Atlantic Lincoln, LLC ("CAL"), a wholly-owned 
      financing subsidiary of the Company, amended its secured revolving credit 
      facility (the "Revolving Loan") to extend the contractual maturity for an 
      additional two-year period, from June 30, 2026, to June 30, 2028. The 
      Company retained its option to extend the term of the Revolving Loan for 
      an additional one-year period, provided no events of default exist and 
      the Company provides 365 days' notice of the extension. No other material 
      terms of the Revolving Loan were modified as a result of the execution of 
      this Amendment. 
   -- As of November 4, 2025, the Company has $69.1 million available on its 
      secured revolving credit facility, and total liquidity, net of estimated 
      liabilities, of approximately $63 million. 

2025 Outlook

Chicago Atlantic affirmed its outlook previously issued on March 12, 2025.

Conference Call and Quarterly Earnings Supplemental Details

Chicago Atlantic will host a conference call and live audio webcast, both open for the general public to hear, later today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (833) 630-1956 (international callers: 412-317-1837). The live audio webcast of the Company's quarterly conference call will be available online in the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.refi.reit. The online replay will be available approximately one hour after the end of the call and archived for one year.

Chicago Atlantic posted its Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Supplemental on the Investor Relations page of its website. Chicago Atlantic routinely posts important information for investors on its website, www.refi.reit. The Company intends to use this website as a means of disclosing material information, for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation FD and to post and update investor presentations and similar materials on a regular basis. The Company encourages investors, analysts, the media and others interested in Chicago Atlantic to monitor the Investor Relations page of its website, in addition to following its press releases, SEC filings, publicly available earnings calls, presentations, webcasts and other information posted from time to time on the website. Please visit the IR Resources section of the website to sign up for email notifications.

About Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc.

Chicago Atlantic Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NASDAQ: REFI) is a market-leading commercial mortgage REIT utilizing significant real estate, credit and cannabis expertise to originate senior secured loans primarily to state-licensed cannabis operators in limited-license states in the United States. REFI is part of the Chicago Atlantic platform, which has offices in Chicago, Miami, New York, and London.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that reflect our current views and projections with respect to, among other things, future events and financial performance. Words such as "believes," "expects," "will," "intends," "plans," "guidance," "estimates," "projects," "anticipates," and "future" or similar expressions are intended to identify forward- looking statements. These forward-looking statements, including statements about our future growth and strategies for such growth, are subject to the inherent uncertainties in predicting future results and conditions and are not guarantees of future performance, conditions or results. More information on these risks and other potential factors that could affect our business and financial results is included in our filings with the SEC. New risks and uncertainties arise over time, and it is not possible to predict those events or how they may affect us. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

Contact:

Tripp Sullivan

SCR Partners

IR@REFI.reit

 
               CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC. 
                       CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS 
                            September 30, 2025     December 31, 2024 
                            -------------------   ------------------- 
                                (unaudited) 
Assets 
   Loans held for 
    investment               $      379,132,272    $      364,238,847 
   Loans held for 
    investment -- related 
    party (Note 8)                   18,918,950            38,238,199 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
      Loans held for 
       investment, at 
       carrying value               398,051,222           402,477,046 
   Current expected credit 
    loss reserve                     (4,990,988)           (4,346,869) 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
      Loans held for 
       investment at 
       carrying value, 
       net                          393,060,234           398,130,177 
   Loans, at fair value -- 
    related party 
    (amortized cost of $0 
    and $5,500,000, 
    respectively)                            --             5,335,000 
   Cash and cash 
    equivalents                      28,920,537            26,400,448 
   Other receivables and 
    assets, net                         581,815               459,187 
   Interest receivable                4,488,146             1,453,823 
   Related party 
    receivables                          26,432             3,370,339 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
Total Assets                 $      427,077,164    $      435,148,974 
                                ===============       =============== 
 
Liabilities 
   Revolving loan            $       52,400,000    $       55,000,000 
   Notes payable, net                49,274,644            49,096,250 
   Dividend payable                   9,905,390            13,605,153 
   Related party payables             3,073,015             2,043,403 
   Management and 
    incentive fees 
    payable                           1,435,071             2,863,158 
   Accounts payable and 
    other liabilities                 1,059,768             2,285,035 
   Interest reserve                      14,597             1,297,878 
Total Liabilities                   117,162,485           126,190,877 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
Commitments and 
contingencies (Note 9) 
 
Stockholders' equity 
   Common stock, par value 
    $0.01 per share, 
    100,000,000 shares 
    authorized and 
    21,075,298 and 
    20,829,228 shares 
    issued and 
    outstanding, 
    respectively                        210,753               208,292 
   Additional 
    paid-in-capital                 322,226,137           318,886,768 
   Accumulated deficit              (12,522,211)          (10,136,963) 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
Total stockholders' equity          309,914,679           308,958,097 
                                ---------------       --------------- 
 
Total liabilities and 
 stockholders' equity        $      427,077,164    $      435,148,974 
                                ===============       =============== 
 
 
                 CHICAGO ATLANTIC REAL ESTATE FINANCE, INC. 
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 
                                 (UNAUDITED) 
                       For the three months      For the nine months ended 
                        ended September 30,            September 30, 
                        2025          2024          2025          2024 
                     -----------   -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Revenues 
   Interest income   $15,250,866   $16,258,744   $46,860,217   $46,624,842 
   Interest expense   (1,565,592)   (1,799,351)   (5,708,022)   (5,742,333) 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Net interest income   13,685,274    14,459,393    41,152,195    40,882,509 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
 
Expenses 
   Management and 
    incentive fees, 
    net                1,435,071     1,669,116     5,103,561     5,198,738 
   General and 
    administrative 
    expense            1,298,910     1,254,062     3,766,140     3,898,864 
   Professional 
    fees                 530,880       468,652     1,503,939     1,327,659 
   Stock based 
    compensation         928,654       845,524     2,459,094     2,213,150 
   Provision 
    (benefit) for 
    current 
    expected credit 
    losses               557,220      (989,597)      631,233      (884,789) 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Total expenses         4,750,735     3,247,757    13,463,967    11,753,622 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
   Change in 
    unrealized gain 
    (loss) on 
    investments               --            --       165,000       (75,604) 
   Realized gain on 
    debt 
    securities, at 
    fair value                --            --            --        72,428 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Net Income before 
 income taxes          8,934,539    11,211,636    27,853,228    29,125,711 
   Income tax 
   expense                    --            --            --            -- 
                      ----------    ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Net Income           $ 8,934,539   $11,211,636   $27,853,228   $29,125,711 
                      ==========    ==========    ==========    ========== 
 
Earnings per 
common share: 
   Basic earnings 
    per common 
    share            $      0.42   $      0.57   $      1.33   $      1.53 
   Diluted earnings 
    per common 
    share            $      0.42   $      0.56   $      1.30   $      1.49 
 
Weighted average 
number of common 
shares 
outstanding: 
Basic weighted 
 average shares of 
 common stock 
 outstanding          21,074,771    19,625,190    20,979,467    19,094,462 
Diluted weighted 
 average shares of 
 common stock 
 outstanding          21,485,776    20,058,417    21,413,422    19,531,691 
 

Distributable Earnings

In addition to using certain financial metrics prepared in accordance with GAAP to evaluate our performance, we also use Distributable Earnings to evaluate our performance. Distributable Earnings is a measure that is not prepared in accordance with GAAP. We define Distributable Earnings as, for a specified period, the net income (loss) computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding (i) non-cash equity compensation expense, (ii) depreciation and amortization, (iii) any unrealized gains, losses or other non-cash items recorded in net income (loss) for the period, regardless of whether such items are included in other comprehensive income or loss, or in net income (loss); provided that Distributable Earnings does not exclude, in the case of investments with a deferred interest feature (such as OID, debt instruments with PIK interest and zero coupon securities), accrued income that we have not yet received in cash, (iv) provision for current expected credit losses and (v) one-time events pursuant to changes in GAAP and certain non-cash charges, in each case after discussions between our Manager and our independent directors and after approval by a majority of such independent directors. We believe providing Distributable Earnings on a supplemental basis to our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP is helpful to stockholders in assessing the overall performance of our business. As a REIT, we are required to distribute at least 90% of our annual REIT taxable income and to pay tax at regular corporate rates to the extent that we annually distribute less than 100% of such taxable income. Given these requirements and our belief that dividends are generally one of the principal reasons that stockholders invest in our common stock, we generally intend to attempt to pay dividends to our stockholders in an amount equal to our net taxable income, if and to the extent authorized by our Board. Distributable Earnings is one of many factors considered by our Board in authorizing dividends and, while not a direct measure of net taxable income, over time, the measure can be considered a useful indicator of our dividends.

In our Annual Report on Form 10-K, we defined Distributable Earnings so that, in addition to the exclusions noted above, the term also excluded from net income Incentive Compensation paid to our Manager. We believe that revising the term Distributable Earnings so that it is presented net of Incentive Compensation, while not a direct measure of net taxable income, over time, can be considered a more useful indicator of our ability to pay dividends. This adjustment to the calculation of Distributable Earnings has no impact on period-to-period comparisons. Distributable Earnings should not be considered as substitutes for GAAP net income. We caution readers that our methodology for calculating Distributable Earnings may differ from the methodologies employed by other REITs to calculate the same or similar supplemental performance measures, and as a result, our reported Distributable Earnings may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other REITs.

 
                      Three        Three 
                     months       months      Nine months   Nine months 
                      ended        ended         ended         ended 
                    September    September     September     September 
                    30, 2025     30, 2024      30, 2025      30, 2024 
                   -----------  -----------   -----------   ----------- 
Net Income         $ 8,934,539  $11,211,636   $27,853,228   $29,125,711 
Adjustments to 
net income 
   Stock based 
    compensation       928,654      845,524     2,459,094     2,213,150 
   Amortization 
    of debt 
    issuance 
    costs              101,729       91,678       322,186       182,593 
   Provision 
    (benefit) for 
    current 
    expected 
    credit 
    losses             557,220     (989,597)      631,233      (884,789) 
   Change in 
    unrealized 
    gain (loss) 
    on 
    investments             --           --      (165,000)       75,604 
                    ----------   ----------    ----------    ---------- 
Distributable 
 Earnings          $10,522,142  $11,159,241   $31,100,741   $30,712,269 
                    ==========   ==========    ==========    ========== 
   Basic weighted 
    average 
    shares of 
    common stock 
    outstanding 
    (in shares)     21,074,771   19,625,190    20,979,467    19,094,462 
Basic 
 Distributable 
 Earnings per 
 Weighted Average 
 Share             $      0.50  $      0.57   $      1.48   $      1.61 
   Diluted 
    weighted 
    average 
    shares of 
    common stock 
    outstanding 
    (in shares)     21,485,776   20,058,417    21,413,422    19,531,691 
Diluted 
 Distributable 
 Earnings per 
 Weighted Average 
 Share             $      0.49  $      0.56   $      1.45   $      1.57 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

November 04, 2025 07:00 ET (12:00 GMT)

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