Feb 6 (Reuters) - Regency Centers ( REG ) topped

fourth-quarter estimates for funds from operations on Thursday,

as the commercial real estate company benefited from strong

leasing demand at its grocery-anchored shopping centers.

WHY IT'S IMPORTANT

Stable demand for groceries at tenants such as Target ( TGT )

and Kroger ( KR ) has helped companies such as Regency

and peer Kimco Realty ( KIM ) raise rental rates.

BY THE NUMBERS

Regency, which also counts Ulta Beauty ( ULTA ) and TJ Maxx

parent TJX among its tenants, reported FFO of $1.09 per

share for the quarter ended December 31, compared with analysts'

average estimate of $1.07 per share, according to data compiled

by LSEG.

The company expects 2025 National Association of Real

Estate Investment Trusts (Nareit) FFO per share to be in the

range of $4.52 to $4.58, up from the $4.30 Nareit FFO it

reported in 2024.

KEY QUOTE

"As our grocery partners and other tenants look to further

expand their footprints, high-quality space in top trade areas

is hard to come by, creating an opportunity for us to leverage

our platform," Lisa Palmer, Regency's chief executive officer,

said on a post-earnings call.