Company Description
Tanger Inc. (NYSE: SKT) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on owning and operating outlet and open-air retail shopping destinations. Classified in the finance and insurance sector under other financial vehicles, Tanger combines real estate ownership with retail-focused operations through a portfolio of outlet centers and open-air lifestyle centers in the United States and Canada.
According to company disclosures, Tanger has been a publicly traded REIT since 1993 and has over 44 years of expertise in the retail and outlet shopping industries. The company is described as a leading owner and operator of outlet and open-air retail shopping destinations, reflecting its long operating history and specialized focus on this property type.
Business model and portfolio
Tanger’s business is centered on developing, acquiring, owning, operating, and managing outlet and open-air shopping centers. Its portfolio, as described in recent company communications, consists of 38 outlet centers and three open-air lifestyle centers, comprising more than 16 million square feet of gross leasable area. These properties are positioned across tourist destinations and what the company characterizes as vibrant markets in multiple U.S. states and Canada.
The company’s centers host thousands of stores operated by hundreds of different brand name companies. Recent descriptions note over 3,000 stores operated by more than 800 brand name companies across the portfolio. By leasing space to a diverse mix of retailers, restaurants, entertainment venues, and other tenants, Tanger’s properties function as multi-tenant retail destinations.
Geographic footprint and property characteristics
Tanger’s portfolio is spread across 22 U.S. states and Canada, based on the most recent company descriptions. The properties are characterized as outlet centers and open-air lifestyle centers, with a focus on locations that benefit from tourism, regional traffic, and surrounding economic activity. The company has also highlighted acquisitions that extend its footprint into new states, such as the acquisition of Legends Outlets in Kansas City, Kansas, which it is rebranding as Tanger Kansas City at Legends.
Individual properties often feature open-air designs, central gathering spaces, and a mix of retail, dining, and entertainment tenants. In the case of the Legends acquisition, the company notes that the center is designed for walkability and includes green spaces, courtyards, and public art, illustrating the type of open-air environments Tanger seeks to operate.
REIT structure and financing activities
As a REIT, Tanger focuses on income-producing real estate and distributes a portion of its cash flow to shareholders through dividends. The company’s board of directors has authorized recurring quarterly cash dividends, as reflected in recent announcements of dividends payable to common shareholders of record on specified dates.
Tanger also actively manages its capital structure. Recent disclosures describe unsecured term loan facilities, revolving credit facilities, and senior notes, as well as exchangeable senior notes due 2031 issued through its operating partnership, Tanger Properties Limited Partnership. The notes are senior unsecured obligations, guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by Tanger Inc., and include features such as exchange rights into common shares, capped call transactions to manage potential dilution, and redemption or repurchase provisions tied to specified conditions.
Operating partnership and capital management
Tanger conducts its real estate operations primarily through Tanger Properties Limited Partnership, its operating partnership. This structure is common among REITs and allows the partnership to issue debt, such as the exchangeable senior notes, while Tanger Inc. provides a guarantee. The company has described using proceeds from debt offerings and term loans to repay unsecured lines of credit, refinance existing senior notes at maturity, and support general corporate purposes, including the redemption or repayment of indebtedness.
In addition, Tanger has discussed the use of interest rate swaps and forward-starting swaps to manage exposure to changes in benchmark interest rates on certain term loans and mortgages. The company has also amended and refinanced individual property mortgages and credit facilities to extend maturities, adjust pricing, and modify terms consistent with its balance sheet and liquidity objectives.
Growth through acquisitions and portfolio evolution
Tanger’s recent communications highlight a strategy that includes both internal portfolio management and external growth through acquisitions. The company has acquired multiple open-air centers in recent years, including Legends Outlets in Kansas City, Kansas, which it describes as Kansas’ only outlet center and the retail anchor of a large master-planned entertainment and retail district. That acquisition was funded through available liquidity and the assumption of an existing commercial mortgage-backed security loan.
The company has also referenced acquisitions of other centers and the sale of a non-core center in Howell, Michigan, illustrating an approach that includes both expansion and selective disposition. Management commentary in earnings releases emphasizes leasing activity, remerchandising, and the addition of restaurants, entertainment destinations, and non-traditional outlet retailers as part of evolving the portfolio.
Leasing, occupancy, and operating metrics
Tanger regularly reports operating metrics such as occupancy, same center net operating income (Same Center NOI), average tenant sales per square foot, and occupancy cost ratios. These metrics are used by the company to describe portfolio performance and the impact of leasing and operating strategies. The company also reports Funds From Operations (FFO), Core FFO, Adjusted EBITDAre, net debt, interest coverage, and Funds Available for Distribution (FAD) as supplemental non-GAAP measures commonly used in the real estate industry.
Leasing activity has been described as robust, with hundreds of renewed or re-tenanted leases over rolling twelve-month periods and positive blended rental rate spreads on a cash basis. The company has noted record leasing volume and growth from both existing and new tenants, as well as high occupancy levels across its portfolio.
Dividends and shareholder returns
Tanger’s board of directors has authorized recurring quarterly cash dividends, and the company has announced specific dividend amounts per share payable on stated dates to shareholders of record. These dividends reflect the REIT structure, under which a significant portion of taxable income is distributed to shareholders. The company also references a FAD payout ratio, which compares distributions to Funds Available for Distribution, as part of its discussion of capital allocation.
Regulatory reporting and disclosures
Tanger files periodic and current reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including Forms 8-K that furnish earnings releases and supplemental operating and financial information. The company has also entered into a registration rights agreement related to its exchangeable senior notes, under which it has agreed to file a shelf registration statement or prospectus supplement covering resales of common shares deliverable upon exchange of the notes and to keep that registration effective for a specified period.
In addition, Tanger has indicated that it uses its investor relations website and other channels as means of providing supplemental information and complying with Regulation FD. These disclosures provide investors with access to detailed financial data, operating metrics, and transaction information.
Position within the retail real estate landscape
Within the broader retail real estate space, Tanger is focused specifically on outlet and open-air retail shopping destinations. Its portfolio composition, emphasis on tourist and high-traffic markets, and mix of brand name tenants distinguish it from REITs that concentrate on enclosed regional malls, single-tenant net lease properties, or other property types. The company’s descriptions of its strategy emphasize acquiring and operating open-air retail assets and evolving its tenant mix to align with shopper demand.
Use cases for investors and analysts
For investors and analysts researching SKT stock, Tanger’s disclosures provide insight into how a specialized retail REIT manages leasing, occupancy, capital structure, and growth through acquisitions. The company’s regular reporting of FFO, Same Center NOI, occupancy, tenant sales per square foot, and leverage metrics offers a framework for evaluating its performance over time. Its history as a publicly traded REIT since 1993 and its long-standing focus on outlet and open-air retail centers provide additional context for understanding the business.