Company Description
National Storage Affiliates Trust (NYSE: NSA) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The company is focused on the ownership, operation and acquisition of self storage properties predominantly located within the top 100 metropolitan statistical areas throughout the United States. According to company disclosures, National Storage Affiliates Trust holds ownership interests in and operates a large portfolio of self storage facilities across multiple states and Puerto Rico, and is described as one of the largest owners and operators of self storage properties among public and private companies in the United States.
National Storage Affiliates Trust is classified in the finance and insurance sector under other financial vehicles, reflecting its REIT structure and focus on income-producing real estate. The company generates results from rental revenue and related property income from its self storage properties, as well as management fees and other revenue associated with unconsolidated real estate ventures. Its business model centers on aggregating and managing self storage assets in key metropolitan markets, while also using joint ventures and preferred equity investments to pursue additional value-add opportunities in the self storage space.
The company reports performance using both GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, including funds from operations (FFO), core funds from operations (Core FFO) and net operating income (NOI). These measures are highlighted in its earnings releases as metrics that management believes help investors understand the business, its performance and its ability to earn and distribute cash to shareholders. National Storage Affiliates Trust regularly provides supplemental financial information and reconciliations of these non-GAAP measures to the most directly comparable GAAP measures.
Self Storage Portfolio and Geographic Reach
National Storage Affiliates Trust focuses on self storage properties in metropolitan statistical areas across the United States and Puerto Rico. Company disclosures state that, as of various reporting dates, NSA held ownership interests in and operated more than one thousand self storage properties, with tens of millions of rentable square feet. These properties are located in dozens of states and Puerto Rico, illustrating a geographically diversified footprint within the self storage sector.
The company has also indicated that certain markets have performed differently within its same store portfolio, noting that markets such as Portland, Houston and San Juan, Puerto Rico have generated above portfolio average same store total revenue growth in some periods, while markets including Riverside–San Bernardino, Atlanta, Phoenix and Sarasota have generated below portfolio average same store total revenue growth in those same periods. This demonstrates that NSA monitors market-level performance within its broader portfolio.
Brand and Management Platform
According to prior descriptions, National Storage Affiliates Trust manages and controls the day-to-day operations and affairs of its consolidated properties and unconsolidated real estate ventures under several self storage brands. These brands include iStorage, SecurCare, RightSpace, Northwest and Move It. The company has also referenced the Moove In brand in connection with a joint venture managed by an affiliate of Investment Real Estate Management, LLC. NSA uses its property management platform to oversee operations across these branded locations.
The company has described changes in its brand structure, including the completion of the rebranding of all NSA-owned Moove In branded stores to iStorage, which reduced the number of NSA-operated brands. This indicates an ongoing effort to streamline brand management within its portfolio while still working with partners that operate under distinct brands in certain joint venture structures.
Joint Ventures and Capital Deployment
National Storage Affiliates Trust utilizes joint ventures and preferred equity investments as part of its growth and capital allocation strategy. The company has disclosed joint ventures with institutional partners, including a venture with a state pension fund advised by Heitman Capital Management, LLC, and a joint venture with an affiliate of Investment Real Estate Management, LLC, a former participating regional operator that manages properties under the Moove In brand.
In these structures, NSA contributes equity capital, often a majority share, and may receive a preferred equity position with a stated preferred return and the potential for additional returns as the joint venture exits its investments. Properties acquired by such joint ventures are managed by the partner under its brand, while NSA participates economically through its equity investment. These arrangements expand NSA’s access to value-add self storage investments and can create a pipeline of potential future acquisition opportunities.
Same Store Performance and Operating Metrics
National Storage Affiliates Trust regularly reports same store net operating income (NOI), same store total revenues, property operating expenses, occupancy and rental revenue per occupied square foot for a defined same store pool of properties. Company disclosures show that same store NOI and total revenues can fluctuate year over year, influenced by changes in occupancy, rental rates, marketing costs, property taxes, utilities and other operating expenses.
For example, NSA has reported periods where same store total revenue decreased due to lower average occupancy and modest declines in average annualized rental revenue per occupied square foot, while same store property operating expenses increased due to higher marketing, repairs and maintenance, property tax and utilities expenses, partially offset by decreases in insurance or personnel costs. These details illustrate how the company’s operating results are affected by both demand for self storage and the cost structure of running its properties.
Dividends and REIT Profile
As a REIT, National Storage Affiliates Trust emphasizes its ability to earn and distribute cash to shareholders. The company’s Board of Trustees has declared regular cash dividends on its common shares, as well as on its 6.000% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares and 6.000% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. The company has disclosed an annualized dividend rate for its common shares and has provided details on record dates and payment dates for these distributions.
These dividend declarations, together with the company’s discussion of FFO and Core FFO, underscore NSA’s focus on generating distributable cash flow from its self storage portfolio. The company has also reaffirmed or updated Core FFO guidance ranges in its earnings releases, providing investors with management’s expectations for full-year performance, including assumptions regarding same store revenue growth, property operating expense growth, NOI growth, general and administrative expenses, management fees and other revenue, and acquisition and disposition volumes.
Financial Reporting and Guidance
National Storage Affiliates Trust files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Forms 8-K that furnish earnings releases and supplemental financial information. In these filings, NSA presents detailed consolidated statements of operations and balance sheets, along with segment and same store operating data. It also provides reconciliations of non-GAAP measures such as FFO, Core FFO and NOI to GAAP metrics.
The company’s guidance tables outline expected ranges for Core FFO per share and unit, same store total revenue and expense growth, NOI growth, general and administrative expenses, management fees and other revenue, contributions from unconsolidated real estate ventures, and anticipated acquisition and disposition volumes. These disclosures are intended to help investors understand the factors that management believes will influence NSA’s financial performance over the guidance period.
Position Within the Self Storage Sector
National Storage Affiliates Trust describes itself as one of the largest owners and operators of self storage properties among public and private companies in the United States. Its focus on properties in top 100 metropolitan statistical areas, combined with a large and diversified portfolio across many states and Puerto Rico, positions the company as a significant participant in the self storage real estate market.
The company’s use of multiple brands, joint ventures with institutional and regional partners, and emphasis on both wholly owned and venture-owned properties reflect a multi-faceted approach to expanding and managing its self storage footprint. Investors evaluating NSA stock can review its SEC filings, earnings releases and supplemental financial information to analyze occupancy trends, rental rate dynamics, operating expenses, capital allocation decisions and dividend practices over time.
Frequently Asked Questions About National Storage Affiliates Trust
- What does National Storage Affiliates Trust do?
National Storage Affiliates Trust is a real estate investment trust focused on the ownership, operation and acquisition of self storage properties. The company holds ownership interests in and operates a large portfolio of self storage facilities located across numerous U.S. states and Puerto Rico, primarily in top 100 metropolitan statistical areas. - How does National Storage Affiliates Trust generate results?
The company generates results primarily through rental revenue and other property-related revenue from its self storage properties, as well as management fees and other revenue associated with unconsolidated real estate ventures. It reports performance using metrics such as funds from operations (FFO), core funds from operations (Core FFO) and net operating income (NOI). - Where is National Storage Affiliates Trust headquartered?
National Storage Affiliates Trust is headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado, as disclosed in its SEC filings and company press releases. - What types of properties are in NSA’s portfolio?
NSA’s portfolio consists of self storage properties. Company disclosures indicate that these properties provide millions of rentable square feet across more than one thousand facilities in multiple states and Puerto Rico. - What brands does National Storage Affiliates Trust operate under?
According to company descriptions, NSA manages and controls properties under several brands, including iStorage, SecurCare, RightSpace, Northwest and Move It. The company has also referenced the Moove In brand in connection with a joint venture managed by an affiliate of Investment Real Estate Management, LLC. - How does NSA use joint ventures in its business?
NSA participates in joint ventures with institutional and regional partners to acquire and operate self storage properties. In some cases, NSA provides a majority of the equity capital and receives preferred equity with a stated preferred return and potential additional returns when the joint venture exits its investments. Properties in these ventures may be managed by the partner under its brand. - What performance metrics does NSA emphasize?
The company emphasizes non-GAAP measures such as FFO, Core FFO and NOI, alongside GAAP net income. It also reports same store total revenues, property operating expenses, NOI, occupancy and rental revenue per occupied square foot for a defined same store pool of properties. - Does National Storage Affiliates Trust pay dividends?
Yes. NSA’s Board of Trustees has declared regular cash dividends on its common shares and on its 6.000% Series A and Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares. The company has disclosed an annualized dividend rate for its common shares and provides record and payment dates in its dividend announcements. - How does NSA provide financial guidance?
NSA issues guidance ranges for Core FFO per share and unit and related assumptions in its earnings releases. These guidance tables include expectations for same store revenue and expense growth, NOI growth, general and administrative expenses, management fees and other revenue, contributions from unconsolidated real estate ventures, and anticipated acquisition and disposition volumes. - What is NSA’s role in the broader self storage market?
National Storage Affiliates Trust describes itself as one of the largest owners and operators of self storage properties among public and private companies in the United States. Its focus on top 100 metropolitan statistical areas and its large portfolio across many states and Puerto Rico make it a significant participant in the self storage real estate sector.