Lisa Palmer, president and CEO of Regency Centers Corp. (Nasdaq: REG), sat down for a video interview during Nareit’s REITweek: 2025 Investor Conference in New York City on June 2-5.
Palmer shared her perspective on consumer sentiment, tenant demand, and the company’s strategic positioning. Despite rising economic uncertainty since April, Palmer noted that "our foot traffic is actually greater this year than it was last year," indicating strong performance at Regency’s grocery-anchored shopping centers. She emphasized that while national consumer sentiment has dipped, Regency’s properties have remained resilient due to their focus on necessity, value, and convenience.
Palmer also spoke confidently about Regency’s financial strength, highlighting its disciplined balance sheet and A credit ratings from both Moody’s and S&P. “We have ample free cash flow and almost a full availability on a $1.5 billion line of credit,” she said, underscoring their flexibility to both grow and weather downturns.
Looking ahead, Palmer pointed to Regency’s robust ground-up development platform—with more than $500 million currently underway—as a key driver of growth through 2025 and beyond. She described it as “the best development platform in the business.”