GTY US Equity☆

Item 1A.Risk Factors

We are subject to various risks, many of which are beyond our control. As a result of these and other factors, we may experience material fluctuations in our future operating results on a quarterly or annual basis, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. An investment in our stock involves various risks, including those mentioned below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and those that are described from time to time in our other filings with the SEC.

Summary of Risk Factors

Our business is subject to risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties discussed at-length below, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following:

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

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The risks inherent in owning or leasing real estate.

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The real estate industry is highly competitive.

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Our future cash flow is dependent on the performance of our tenants of their lease obligations, renewal of existing leases and either re-leasing or selling our properties.

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Significant number of our tenants depend on the same industry for their revenues.

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It may be difficult for our investors to determine the creditworthiness of most of our tenants.

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An increase in costs and liability accruals as a result of environmental laws and regulations could adversely affect our business.

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We are defending pending lawsuits and claims that may subject us to material losses.

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We may be subject to losses that may not be covered by insurance.

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The relative concentration of a material number of our properties in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and adverse conditions in those regions, in particular, could negatively impact our operations.

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Property taxes on our properties may increase without notice.

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Our business operations may not generate sufficient cash for distributions or debt service.

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Adverse developments in general business, economic or political conditions could have a material adverse effect on us.

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Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the market on which our common stock trades, the markets in which we operate, our operations and our results of operations (including current geopolitical conflicts in Europe and the Middle East and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions as a result of such conflicts).

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Our exposure to counterparty risk.

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Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

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Our assets may be subject to impairment charges.

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Our accounting policies and methods require management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain.

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Amendments to the Accounting Standards Codification made by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or changes in accounting standards may adversely affect our reported revenues, profitability, or financial position.

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If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately and timely report our financial results.

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Our reliance on certain members of our management team or Board of Directors, the loss of any one of which could adversely affect our business or the market price of our common stock.

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Our reliance on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business.

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Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be impacted by current or future outbreaks of highly infectious or contagious diseases, including COVID-19.

Risks Related to Financing Our Business

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Our dependency on external sources of capital, which may or may not be available on favorable terms, or at all.

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Interest rate risk and our ability to manage or mitigate this risk effectively.

Risks Related to Our Investment Strategy

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We may not be able to successfully implement our investment strategy.

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We expect to acquire new properties and this may create risks.

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We are pursuing redevelopment opportunities and this creates risks to our Company.

Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT

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The failure to qualify as a REIT under the federal income tax laws would have adverse consequences to our stockholders. Uncertain tax matters may have a significant impact on the results of operations for any single fiscal year or interim period or may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

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The uncertainty regarding the U.S. federal income tax treatment of the cash that we might receive from cash settlement of a forward sale agreement under our at-the-market equity offering program could jeopardize our ability to meet the REIT qualification requirements.

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A risk of changes in the tax law applicable to REITs.

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U.S. federal tax reform legislation could affect REITs generally, our tenants, the markets in which we operate, the price of our common stock and our results of operations.

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In order to preserve our REIT status, our charter limits the number of shares a person may own, which may discourage a takeover that could result in a premium price for our common stock or otherwise benefit our stockholders.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Securities

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Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded common stock.

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Changes in our dividend policy and the dividends we pay may be subject to significant volatility.

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Our forward sale agreements under our at-the-market equity offering program could result in substantial dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity or result in substantial cash payment obligations.

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In case of our bankruptcy or insolvency, any forward sale agreement that is in effect under our at-the-market equity offering program will automatically terminate, and we would not receive the expected proceeds.

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Future issuances of equity securities could dilute the interest of holders of our equity securities.

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Maryland law may discourage a third-party from acquiring us.

Risks Related to Our Business and Operations

We are subject to risks inherent in owning and leasing real estate.

We are subject to varying degrees of risk generally related to leasing and owning real estate, many of which are beyond our control. In addition to general risks applicable to us, our risks include, among others: our liability as a lessee for long-term lease obligations regardless of our revenues; deterioration in national, regional and local economic and real estate market conditions; potential changes in supply of, or demand for, rental properties similar to ours; competition for tenants and declining rental rates; difficulty in selling or re-leasing properties on favorable terms or at all; impairments in our ability to collect rent or other payments due to us when they are due; increases in interest rates and adverse changes in the availability, cost and terms of financing; uninsured property liability; the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws; adverse changes in zoning laws and other regulations; acts of terrorism and war; acts of God; the unforeseen impacts of climate change, compliance with any future laws or regulations designed to prevent or mitigate the impacts of climate change, and any material costs related thereto; the potential risk of functional obsolescence of properties over time the need to periodically renovate and repair our properties; and physical or weather-related damage to our properties. Certain significant expenditures generally do not change in response to economic or other conditions, including: (i) debt service, (ii) real estate taxes, (iii) environmental remediation costs and (iv) operating and maintenance costs. The combination of variable revenue and relatively fixed expenditures may result, under certain market conditions, in reduced earnings and could have an adverse effect on our financial condition.

Each of the factors listed above could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. In addition, real estate investments are relatively illiquid, which means that our ability to vary our portfolio of properties in response to changes in economic and other conditions may be limited.

We are in a competitive business.

The real estate industry is highly competitive. Where we own properties, we compete for tenants with a large number of real estate property owners and other companies that sublet properties. Our principal means of competition are rents we are able to charge in relation to the income producing potential of the location. In addition, we expect other major real estate investors, some with much greater financial resources or more experienced personnel than we have, will compete with us for attractive acquisition opportunities. These competitors include petroleum manufacturing, distributing and marketing companies, convenience store retailers, other REITs, public and private investment funds, and other individual and institutional investors. This competition has increased prices for properties we seek to acquire and may impair our ability to make suitable property acquisitions on favorable terms in the future.

Our future cash flow is dependent on the performance of our tenants of their lease obligations, renewal of existing leases and either re-leasing or selling our properties.

We are subject to risks that financial distress, default or bankruptcy of our tenants may lead to vacancy at our properties or disruption in rent receipts as a result of partial payment or nonpayment of rent or that expiring leases may not be renewed. Under unfavorable general economic conditions, there can be no assurance that our tenants’ level of sales and financial performance generally will not be adversely affected, which in turn could negatively impact our rental revenues. We are subject to risks that the terms governing renewal or re-leasing of our properties (including, compliance with numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations related to the protection of the environment, such as the remediation of contamination and the retirement and decommissioning or removal of long-lived assets, the cost of required renovations, or replacement of USTs and related equipment) may be less favorable than current lease terms.

We are also subject to the risk that we may receive less net proceeds from the properties we sell as compared to their current carrying value or that the value of our properties may be adversely affected by unfavorable general economic conditions. Unfavorable general economic conditions may also negatively impact our ability to re-lease or sell our properties. Numerous properties compete with our properties in attracting tenants to lease space. The number of available or competitive properties in a particular area could have a material adverse effect on our ability to lease or sell our properties and on the rents we are able to charge. In addition to the risk of disruption in rent receipts, we are subject to the risk of incurring real estate taxes, maintenance, environmental and other expenses at

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vacant properties. The financial distress, default or bankruptcy of our tenants may also lead to protracted and expensive processes for retaking control of our properties than would otherwise be the case, including, eviction or other legal proceedings related to or resulting from the tenant’s default. These risks are greater with respect to certain of our tenants who lease multiple properties from us. If a tenant files for bankruptcy protection it is possible that we would recover substantially less than the full value of our claims against the tenant. If (i) our tenants do not perform their lease obligations, (ii) we are unable to renew existing leases and promptly recapture and re-lease or sell our properties, (iii) lease terms upon renewal or re-leasing are less favorable than current or historical lease terms, (iv) the values of properties that we sell are adversely affected by market conditions, or (v) we incur significant costs or disruption related to or resulting from tenant financial distress, default or bankruptcy, then our cash flow could be significantly adversely affected.

Significant number of our tenants depend on the same industry for their revenues.

We derive significant portion of our revenues from leasing, primarily on a triple-net basis, and financing convenience store and gasoline station properties to tenants in the petroleum marketing industry. Accordingly, significant portion of our revenues depend on the economic success of the petroleum marketing industry, and any factors that adversely affect that industry, such as disruption in the supply of petroleum or a decrease in the demand for conventional motor fuels due to conservation, technological advancements in petroleum-fueled motor vehicles or an increase in the use of, and consumer demand for, alternative fuel, electric and battery-operated vehicles, or other “green technologies,” could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. Similarly, governmental regulations regarding climate change and the greenhouse gas emissions may accelerate these trends that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. The success of participants in the petroleum marketing industry depends upon the sale of refined petroleum products at margins in excess of fixed and variable expenses. The petroleum marketing industry is highly competitive and volatile. Petroleum products are commodities, the prices of which depend on numerous factors that affect supply and demand. The prices paid by our tenants and other petroleum marketers for products are affected by global, national and regional factors. A large, rapid increase in wholesale petroleum prices would adversely affect the profitability and cash flows of our tenants if the increased cost of petroleum products could not be passed on to their customers or if automobile consumption of gasoline was to decline significantly. We cannot be certain as to how these factors will affect petroleum product prices or supply in the future, or how in particular they will affect our tenants.

Because certain of our tenants are not rated and their financial information is not available to you, it may be difficult for our investors to determine their creditworthiness.

The majority of our properties are leased to tenants who are not rated by any nationally recognized statistical rating organizations. In addition, our tenants’ financial information is not generally available to our investors. Additionally, many of our tenants are part of larger corporate organizations and we do not receive financial information for the other entities in those organizations. The financial distress of other affiliated companies or businesses in those organizations may negatively impact the ability or willingness of our tenant to perform its obligations under its lease with us. Because of the lack of financial information or credit ratings it is, therefore, difficult for our investors to assess the creditworthiness of our tenants and to determine the ability of our tenants to meet their obligations to us. It is possible that the assumptions and estimates we make after reviewing publicly and privately obtained information about our tenants are not accurate and that we may be required to increase reserves for bad debts, record allowances for deferred rent receivable or record additional expenses if our tenants are unable or unwilling to meet their obligations to us.

We incur significant operating costs and, from time to time, may have significant liability accruals as a result of environmental laws and regulations, which costs and accruals could significantly increase, and reduce our profitability or have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

We are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations, including matters relating to the protection of the environment. Under certain environmental laws, a current or previous owner or operator of real estate may be liable for contamination resulting from the presence or discharge of hazardous or toxic substances or petroleum products at, on, or under, such property, and may be required to investigate and clean-up such contamination. Such laws typically impose liability and clean-up responsibility first on the party responsible for the contamination, but can also impose liability and clean-up responsibility on the owner and the current operator without regard to whether the owner or operator knew of or caused the presence of the contaminants, or the timing or cause of the contamination. Liability under such environmental laws has been interpreted to be joint and several unless the harm is divisible and there is a reasonable basis for allocation of responsibilityand the financial resources are available to perform the remediation. For example, liability may arise as a result of the historical use of a property or from the migration of contamination from adjacent or nearby properties. Any such contamination or liability may also reduce the value of the property. In addition, the owner or operator of a property may be subject to claims by third-parties based on injury, damage and/or costs, including investigation and clean-up costs, resulting from environmental contamination present at or emanating from a property. We cannot predict what environmental legislation or regulations may be enacted in the future, or how existing laws or regulations will be administered or interpreted with respect to products or activities to which they have not previously been applied. Additionally, compliance with more stringent laws or regulations, as well as more vigorous enforcement policies of the regulatory agencies or stricter interpretation of existing laws, which may develop in the

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future, could have an adverse effect on our financial position, or that of our tenants, and could require substantial additional expenditures for future remediation. Accordingly, compliance with environmental laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

The majority of the properties owned or controlled by us are leased as convenience store and gasoline station properties, and therefore may contain, or may have contained, USTs for the storage of petroleum products and other hazardous or toxic substances, which creates a potential for the release of such products or substances. Some of our properties are subject to regulations regarding the retirement and decommissioning or removal of long-lived assets including buildings containing hazardous materials, USTs and other equipment. Some of the properties may be adjacent to or near properties that have contained or currently contain USTs used to store petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. In addition, certain of the properties are on, adjacent to, or near properties upon which others have engaged or may in the future engage in activities that may release petroleum products or other hazardous or toxic substances. There may be other environmental problems associated with our properties of which we are unaware. These problems may make it more difficult for us to re-lease or sell our properties on favorable terms, or at all.

We enter into leases and various other agreements which contractually allocate responsibility between the parties for known and unknown environmental liabilities at or relating to the subject properties. Under applicable laws, we are contingently liable for these environmental obligations in the event that our tenant does not satisfy them, and we are required to accrue for environmental liabilities that we believe are allocable to others under our leases if we determine that it is probable that our tenant will not meet its environmental obligations. It is possible that our assumptions regarding the ultimate allocation method and share of responsibility that we used to allocate environmental liabilities may change, which may result in material adjustments to the amounts recorded for environmental litigation accruals and environmental remediation liabilities. We assess whether to accrue for environmental liabilities based upon relevant factors including our tenants’ histories of paying for such obligations, our assessment of their financial capability, and their intent to pay for such obligations. However, there can be no assurance that our assessments are correct or that our tenants who have paid their obligations in the past will continue to do so. We may ultimately be responsible to pay for environmental liabilities as the property owner if our tenant fails to pay them. The ultimate resolution of these matters could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

For substantially all of our triple-net leases, our tenants are contractually responsible for compliance with environmental laws and regulations, removal of USTs at the end of their lease term (the cost of which in certain cases is partially borne by us) and remediation of any environmental contamination that arises during the term of their tenancy. Under the terms of our leases covering properties previously leased to Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc. (“Marketing”) (substantially all of which commenced in 2012), we agreed to be responsible for environmental contamination at the premises that was known at the time the lease commenced, and for environmental contamination which existed prior to commencement of the lease and is discovered (other than as a result of a voluntary site investigation) during the first 10 years of the lease term (or a shorter period for a minority of such leases). Substantially all of these 10-year (or, in certain cases, shorter) “look back” periods have now expired, therefore responsibility for all newly discovered contamination, even if it relates to periods prior to commencement of these leases, is contractually allocated to our tenant. Our tenants at properties previously leased to Marketing are in all cases contractually responsible for the cost of any remediation of contamination that results from their use and occupancy of our properties. Under substantially all of our other triple-net leases (i.e., leases covering properties not previously leased to Marketing), contractual responsibility for remediation of all environmental contamination discovered during the term of the lease (including known and unknown contamination that existed prior to commencement of the lease) is the responsibility of our tenant.

For additional information regarding pending environmental lawsuits and claims, and environmental remediation obligations and estimates, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings”, “Environmental Matters” in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Notes 3 and 6 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.

Environmental exposures are difficult to assess and estimate for numerous reasons, including the amount of data available upon initial assessment of contamination, alternative treatment methods that may be applied, location of the property which subjects it to differing local laws and regulations and their interpretations, changes in costs associated with environmental remediation services and equipment, the availability of state UST remediation funds and the possibility of existing legal claims giving rise to allocation of responsibilities to others, as well as the time it takes to remediate contamination and receive regulatory approval. In developing our liability for estimated environmental remediation obligations on a property by property basis, we consider, among other things, laws and regulations, assessments of contamination and surrounding geology, quality of information available, currently available technologies for treatment, alternative methods of remediation and prior experience. Environmental accruals are based on estimates derived upon facts known to us at this time, which are subject to significant change as circumstances change, and as environmental contingencies become more clearly defined and reasonably estimable.

We cannot predict if state UST fund programs will be administered and funded in the future in a manner that is consistent with past practices and if future environmental spending will continue to be eligible for reimbursement at historical recovery rates under these programs. As a result, our estimates in respect of recoveries from state UST remediation funds could change, which could adversely affect our accruals for environmental remediation liabilities.

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Any changes to our estimates or our assumptions that form the basis of our estimates may result in our providing an accrual, or adjustments to the amounts recorded, for environmental remediation liabilities. Additional environmental liabilities could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

We are defending pending lawsuits and claims and are subject to material losses.

We are subject to various lawsuits and claims, including litigation related to environmental matters, such as those arising from leaking USTs, contamination of groundwater with methyl tertiary butyl ether (a fuel derived from methanol, commonly referred to as “MTBE”) and releases of motor fuel into the environment, and toxic tort claims. The ultimate resolution of certain matters cannot be predicted because considerable uncertainty exists both in terms of the probability of loss and the estimate of such loss. Our ultimate liabilities resulting from the lawsuits and claims we face could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. For additional information with respect to certain pending lawsuits and claims, see “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” and Note 3 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.

We are subject to losses that may not be covered by insurance.

We and our tenants carry insurance against certain risks and in such amounts as we believe are customary for businesses of our kind. However, as the costs and availability of insurance change, we may decide not to be covered against certain losses (such as certain environmental liabilities, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods and civil disorder) where, in the judgment of management, the insurance is not warranted due to cost or availability of coverage or the remoteness of perceived risk. Furthermore, there are certain types of losses, such as losses resulting from wars, terrorism or certain acts of God, that generally are not insured because they are either uninsurable or not economically insurable. There is no assurance that the existing insurance coverages are or will be sufficient to cover actual losses incurred. The destruction of, or significant damage to, or significant liabilities arising out of conditions at, our properties due to an uninsured loss would result in an economic loss and could result in us losing both our investment in, and anticipated profits from, such properties. When a loss is insured, the coverage may be insufficient in amount or duration, or a lessee’s customers may be lost, such that the lessee cannot resume its business after the loss at prior levels or at all, resulting in reduced rent or a default under its lease. Any such loss relating to a large number of properties could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

A material portion of our properties are concentrated in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, and adverse conditions in those regions, in particular, could negatively impact our operations.

A significant portion of the properties we own and lease are located in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and, as of December 31, 2023, 32.0% of our annual base rent is derived from four states (New York, Massachusetts, Maryland, and Connecticut). Because of the relative concentration of our properties in those regions, in the event of adverse economic conditions in those regions, we would likely experience higher risk of default on payment of rent to us than if our properties were more geographically diversified. Additionally, the rents on our properties may be subject to a greater risk of default than other properties in the event of adverse economic, political or business developments, natural disasters or severe weather that may affect the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States and the ability of our lessees to make rent payments. This relative lack of geographical diversification could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

Property taxes on our properties may increase without notice.

Each of the properties we own or lease is subject to real property taxes. The leases for certain of the properties that we lease from third-parties obligate us to pay real property taxes with regard to those properties. The real property taxes on our properties and any other properties that we acquire or lease in the future may increase as property tax rates change and as those properties are assessed or reassessed by tax authorities. To the extent that our tenants are unable or unwilling to pay such increase in accordance with their leases, our net operating expenses may increase.

Our business operations may not generate sufficient cash for distributions or debt service.

There is no assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations or that future borrowings will be available to us in an amount sufficient to enable us to pay dividends on our common stock, to pay our indebtedness or to fund our other liquidity needs. We may not be able to repay or refinance existing indebtedness on favorable terms, which could force us to dispose of properties on disadvantageous terms (which may also result in losses) or accept financing on unfavorable terms.

Adverse developments in general business, economic or political conditions could have a material adverse effect on us.

Adverse developments in general business and economic conditions, including through recession, downturn or otherwise, either in the economy generally or in those regions in which a large portion of our business is conducted, could have a material adverse effect on us and significantly increase certain of the risks we are subject to. Among other effects, adverse economic conditions could depress real estate values, impact our ability to re-lease or sell our properties and have an adverse effect on our tenants’ level of sales and financial performance generally. As our revenues are substantially dependent on the economic success of our tenants, any factors that

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adversely impact our tenants could also have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

Terrorist attacks and other acts of violence or war may affect the market on which our common stock trades, the markets in which we operate, our operations and our results of operations (including current geopolitical conflicts in Europe and Middle East and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions as a result of such conflicts).

Terrorist attacks or other acts of violence or war (including current geopolitical conflicts in Europe and Middle East and the related impact on macroeconomic conditions as a result of such conflicts) could negatively affect our business or the businesses of our tenants. These attacks may directly or indirectly impact the physical facilities, networks or the business or the financial condition of us or those of our tenants, vendors or financial institutions with which we have a relationship or conduct business. The consequences of armed conflicts are unpredictable, and we may not be able to foresee events that could have a material adverse effect on us. More generally, any of these events could cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States and worldwide financial markets and economy. Terrorist attacks also could be a factor resulting in, or which could exacerbate, an economic recession in the United States or abroad. Any of these occurrences could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

We are exposed to counterparty risk and there can be no assurances that we will effectively manage or mitigate this risk.

We regularly interact with counterparties in various industries. The types of counterparties most common to our transactions and agreements include, but are not limited to, landlords, tenants, vendors and lenders. We also enter into agreements to acquire and sell properties which allocate responsibility for certain costs to the counterparty. Our most significant counterparties include, but are not limited to, the members of the bank syndicate related to our to our credit agreements, the lenders that are the counterparties to our note purchase agreements, and our major tenants from whom we derive a significant amount of rental revenue. The default, insolvency or other inability or unwillingness of a significant counterparty to perform its obligations under an agreement, including, without limitation, as a result of the rejection of an agreement in bankruptcy proceedings, is likely to have a material adverse effect on us.

As of December 31, 2023, we leased:

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150 properties in four separate unitary leases to subsidiaries of ARKO Corp. which represented, in the aggregate, 15% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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150 properties in three separate unitary leases and two stand-alone leases to subsidiaries of Global Partners LP which represented, in the aggregate, 14% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023.

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77 properties in three separate unitary leases and one stand-alone lease to Apro, LLC (d/b/a United Oil) which, in the aggregate, represented 10% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2023.

We may also undertake additional transactions with these or other existing tenants, which would further concentrate our sources of rental revenues. Many of our tenants, including those noted above, are part of larger corporate organizations and the financial distress of one subsidiary or other affiliated companies or businesses in those organizations may negatively impact the ability or willingness of our tenant to perform its obligations under its lease with us. The failure of a major tenant or their default in their rental and other obligations to us is likely to have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

Inflation may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

Although inflation has not materially impacted our results of operations in the recent past, increased inflation could have a more pronounced negative impact on any variable rate debt we incur in the future and on our results of operations. During times when inflation is greater than increases in rent, as provided for in our leases, rent increases may not keep up with the rate of inflation. Likewise, even though our triple-net leases reduce our exposure to rising property expenses due to inflation, substantial inflationary pressures and increased costs may have an adverse impact on our tenants if increases in their operating expenses exceed increases in revenue, which may adversely affect our tenants’ ability to pay rent.

Also, during inflationary periods, interest rates have historically increased, which would have a direct effect on the interest expense of our borrowings. Our exposure to increases in interest rates in the short term is limited to our variable-rate borrowings, which consist of borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Additionally, inflationary pricing may have a negative effect on the real estate acquisitions and construction costs necessary to complete our development and redevelopment projects, including, but not limited to, costs of construction materials, labor, and services from third-party contractors and suppliers. Higher acquisition and construction costs could adversely impact our net investments in real estate and expected yields on our development and redevelopment projects, which may make otherwise lucrative investment opportunities less profitable to us. As a result, our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows, as well as our ability to pay dividends, could be adversely affected over time.

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Our assets may be subject to impairment charges.

We periodically evaluate our real estate investments and other assets for impairment indicators. The judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators is based on Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), and includes a variety of factors such as market conditions, the accumulation of asset retirement costs due to changes in estimates associated with our estimated environmental liabilities, the status of significant leases, the financial condition of major tenants, and other assumptions and factors that could affect the cash flow from or fair value of our properties. During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, we incurred $5.2 million and $3.5 million, respectively, of impairment charges. We may be required to take similar impairment charges, which could affect the implementation of our current business strategy and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial position and results of operations, and they require management to make estimates, judgments and assumptions about matters that are inherently uncertain.

Our accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how we record and report our financial position and results of operations. We have identified several accounting policies as being critical to the presentation of our financial position and results of operations because they require management to make particularly subjective or complex judgments about matters that are inherently uncertain and because of the likelihood that materially different amounts would be recorded under different conditions or using different assumptions. We cannot provide any assurance that we will not make subsequent significant adjustments to our consolidated financial statements. Estimates, judgments and assumptions underlying our consolidated financial statements include, but are not limited to, receivables and related reserves, deferred rent receivable, income under direct financing leases, asset retirement obligations (including environmental remediation obligations and future environmental liabilities for pre-existing unknown environmental contamination), real estate, depreciation and amortization, carrying value of our properties, impairment of long-lived assets, litigation, accrued liabilities, income taxes and allocation of the purchase price of properties acquired to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed. If our accounting policies, methods, judgments, assumptions, estimates and allocations prove to be incorrect, or if circumstances change, our business, financial condition, revenues, operating expense, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price may be materially adversely affected.

Amendments to the Accounting Standards Codification made by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) or changes in accounting standards issued by other standard-setting bodies may adversely affect our reported revenues, profitability or financial position.

Our consolidated financial statements are subject to the application of GAAP in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification, which is periodically amended by the FASB. The application of GAAP is also subject to varying interpretations over time. Accordingly, we are required to adopt amendments to the Accounting Standards Codification or comply with revised interpretations that are issued from time-to-time by recognized authoritative bodies, including the FASB and the SEC. Those changes could adversely affect our reported revenues, profitability or financial position.

If we fail to maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting, we may not be able to accurately and timely report our financial results.

Effective internal controls over financial reporting are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports, effectively prevent fraud and operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. We are required to perform system and process evaluation and testing of our internal control over financial reporting to allow management to report on, and our independent registered public accounting firm to attest to, the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

As a result of material weaknesses or significant deficiencies that may be identified in our internal control over financial reporting in the future, we may also identify certain deficiencies in some of our disclosure controls and procedures that we believe require remediation. If we or our independent registered public accounting firm discover any such weaknesses or deficiencies, we will make efforts to further improve our internal control over financial reporting controls. However, there is no assurance that we will be successful. Any failure to maintain effective controls or timely effect any necessary improvement of our internal control over financial reporting controls could harm operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations, which could affect the listing of our common stock on the NYSE. Ineffective internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which would likely have a negative effect on the per share trading price of our common stock.

The loss of certain members of our management team or Board of Directors could adversely affect our business or the market price of our common stock.

Our future success and ability to implement our business and investment strategy depends, in part, on our ability to attract and retain key management personnel and directors, and on the continued contributions of such persons, each of whom may be difficult to

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replace. As a REIT, we employ only 32 employees and have a cost-effective management structure. We do not have any employment agreements with any of our executives. In the event of the loss of key management personnel or directors, or upon unexpected death, disability or retirement, we may not be able to find replacements with comparable skill, ability and industry expertise, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price. Additionally, certain of our directors beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. If any of these directors cease to be a director of the Company and they or their estate sell a significant portion of such holdings into the public market, it could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

We rely on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business. Additionally, our failure to comply with applicable privacy, data security or protection or cyber security laws could adversely affect our business.

We rely on information technology networks and systems, including the Internet, to process, transmit and store electronic information and to manage or support a variety of our business processes, including financial transactions and maintenance of records, which may include personal identifying information of tenants and lease data. We rely on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for processing, transmitting and storing confidential tenant information, such as individually identifiable information relating to financial accounts. Although we have taken steps to protect the security of the data maintained in our information systems, it is possible that our security measures will not be able to prevent the systems’ improper functioning, or the improper disclosure of personally identifiable information such as in the event of cyber attacks. Security breaches, including physical or electronic break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by hackers and similar breaches, whether of our systems or those of our vendors or other third parties who hold or have access to our information, can create system disruptions, shutdowns or unauthorized disclosure of confidential information. Any failure by us, or our vendors or other third parties who hold or have access to our information to maintain proper function, security and availability of our information systems could interrupt our operations, damage our reputation, subject us to liability claims or regulatory penalties and could materially and adversely affect us.

In the future, we directly or through our third-party provided information technology systems or software may incorporate artificial intelligence (“AI”) capabilities into our business. As with many innovations, AI presents risks, challenges, and unintended consequences that could affect its adoption, and therefore our business. AI algorithms and training methodologies may be flawed, ineffective or inadequate. The rapid evolution of AI, particularly the anticipated government regulation of AI, could require significant resources for compliance, whether in the development, testing or maintenance of such systems or software. AI development or deployment practices by us or third-party providers could result in incidents that could increase the resources we need to implement cybersecurity measures to protect the security of our data. These deficiencies and other failures of any potential AI systems could subject us to competitive harm, regulatory action, legal liability, and brand or reputational harm.

Governments are continuing to focus on privacy, cybersecurity, data protection, data security, and AI and it is possible that new privacy or data security laws will be passed or existing laws will be amended in a way that is material to our business. Any significant change to applicable laws, regulations, or industry practices regarding our employees’ and users’ data could require us to modify our business, services and products features, possibly in a material manner, and may limit our ability to develop new products, services, and features. Although we have made efforts to design our policies, procedures, and systems to comply with the current requirements of applicable state, federal, and foreign laws, changes to applicable laws and regulations in this area could subject us to additional regulation and oversight, any of which could significantly increase our operating costs.

Our business, results of operations, and financial condition may be impacted by current or future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, including COVID-19, and such impact could be materially adverse.

The global spread of COVID-19 created significant volatility, uncertainty, and economic disruption. The extent to which COVID-19, or the future outbreak of other highly infectious or contagious diseases, impacts our business, operations and financial results is uncertain, and will depend on numerous evolving factors that we may not be able to accurately predict, including governmental, business, and individual actions taken in response to any such outbreak and the impact of those actions on global economic activity; the actions taken in response to economic disruption; the reduced economic activity, if not closures from time to time of our tenants’ facilities, may impact our tenants' businesses, financial condition and liquidity, and may cause one or more of our tenants to be unable to meet their obligations to us in full, or at all, or to otherwise seek modifications of such obligations; general decline in business activity and demand for real estate transactions could adversely affect our ability or desire to grow our portfolio of properties; the financial impact of any such outbreak could negatively impact our future compliance with the financial covenants of our various borrowings and result in a default and potentially an acceleration of indebtedness, which non-compliance could negatively impact our ability to make additional borrowings under our revolving credit facility and pay dividends; and a deterioration in our or our tenants’ ability to operate in affected areas or delays in the supply of products or services to us or our tenants from vendors that are needed for our or our tenants’ efficient operations could adversely affect our operations and those of our tenants.

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Risks Related to Financing Our Business

We are dependent on external sources of capital which may not be available on favorable terms, or at all.

We are dependent on external sources of capital to maintain our status as a REIT and must distribute to our stockholders each year at least 90% of our net taxable income, excluding any net capital gain. Because of these distribution requirements, it is not likely that we will be able to fund all future capital needs, including acquisitions, from income from operations. Therefore, we will have to continue to rely on third-party sources of capital, which may or may not be available on favorable terms, or at all. We may need to access the capital markets in order to execute future significant acquisitions. There can be no assurance that sources of capital will be available to us on favorable terms, or at all.

Our principal sources of liquidity include cash flows from operations, funds available under our revolving credit facility, proceeds from the offering of new debt or equity securities, including the sale of our common stock under our at-the-market equity offering program, and available cash and cash equivalents.

The credit and note purchase agreements governing our borrowings contain customary financial covenants such as leverage, coverage ratios and minimum tangible net worth, as well as limitations on restricted payments, which may limit our ability to incur additional debt or pay dividends. These agreements also contain customary events of default, including cross defaults to each other, change of control and failure to maintain REIT status. Our ability to meet the terms of the agreements is dependent upon our continued ability to meet certain criteria, as further described in Note 4 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K, the performance of our tenants, and the other risks described in this section. If we are not in compliance with one or more of our covenants, which could result in an event of default under these agreements, there can be no assurance that our lenders would waive such non-compliance. This could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operation, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

We have filed a registration statement with the SEC allowing us to offer, from time to time, an indefinite amount of equity and debt securities on an as-needed basis, including shares of our common stock under our at-the-market equity program. The offering of new debt and equity securities will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by us, including among others, market conditions, prevailing interest rates, and the trading price of our common stock.

Our access to third-party sources of capital depends upon a number of factors including general market conditions, the market’s perception of our growth potential, financial stability, our current and potential future earnings and cash distributions, covenants and limitations imposed under our credit and note purchase agreements, and the market price of our common stock.

We are exposed to interest rate risk and there can be no assurances that we will manage or mitigate this risk effectively.

We are exposed to interest rate risk, primarily as a result of our revolving credit facility. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility bear interest at a floating rate and, accordingly, an increase in interest rates will increase the amount of interest we must pay under our revolving credit facility. Our interest rate risk may materially change in the future if we increase our borrowings under the revolving credit facility, amend the credit and note purchase agreements governing our borrowings, seek other sources of debt or equity capital, or refinance our outstanding indebtedness. A significant increase in interest rates could also make it more difficult to find alternative financing on desirable terms. For additional information with respect to interest rate risk, see “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this Form 10-K.

Risks Related to Our Investment Strategy

We may not be able to successfully implement our investment strategy.

We may not be able to successfully implement our investment strategy. We cannot assure that our portfolio of properties will expand at all, or if it will expand at any specified rate or to any specified size. As part of our overall growth strategy, we regularly review acquisition, financing and redevelopment opportunities, and we expect to continue to pursue investments that we believe will benefit our financial performance. We cannot assure that investment opportunities which meet our investment criteria will be available. Pursuing our investment opportunities may result in additional debt or new equity issuances, that may initially be dilutive to our net income, and such investments may not perform as we expect or produce the returns that we anticipate (including, without limitation, as a result of tenant bankruptcies, tenant concessions, our inability to collect rents and higher than anticipated operating expenses). Further, we may not be able to successfully integrate investments into our existing portfolio without operating disruptions or unanticipated costs. To the extent that our current sources of liquidity are not sufficient to fund such investments, we will require other sources of capital, which may or may not be available on favorable terms or at all. Additionally, to the extent that we increase the size of our portfolio, we may not be able to adapt our management, administrative, accounting and operational systems, or hire and retain sufficient operational staff to integrate investments into our portfolio or manage any future investments without operating disruptions or unanticipated costs. Moreover, our continued growth will require increased investment in management personnel, professional fees, other personnel, financial and management systems and controls and facilities, which will result in additional operating expenses. Under the circumstances described above, our results of operations, financial condition and growth prospects may be materially adversely affected.

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We expect to acquire new properties and this may create risks.

We may acquire properties when we believe that an acquisition matches our business and investment strategies. These properties may have characteristics or deficiencies currently unknown to us that affect their value or revenue potential. It is possible that the operating performance of these properties may decline after we acquire them, or that they may not perform as expected. Further, if financed by additional debt or new equity issuances, our acquisition of properties may result in stockholder dilution. Our acquisition of properties will expose us to the liabilities of those properties, some of which we may not be aware of at the time of such acquisitions. We face competition in pursuing these acquisitions and we may not succeed in leasing acquired properties at rents sufficient to cover the costs of their acquisition and operations.

Newly acquired properties may require significant management attention that would otherwise be devoted to our ongoing business. We may not succeed in consummating desired acquisitions. Consequences arising from or in connection with any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

We are pursuing redevelopment opportunities and this creates risks to our Company.

We have commenced a program to redevelop certain of our properties, and to recapture select properties from our net lease portfolio in order to redevelop such properties, for either a new convenience and gasoline use or for alternative single tenant net lease retail uses. The success at each stage of our redevelopment program is dependent on numerous factors and risks, including our ability to identify and extract qualified sites from our portfolio and successfully prepare and market them for alternative uses, and project development issues, including those relating to planning, zoning, licensing, permitting, third party and governmental authorizations, changes in local market conditions, increases in construction costs, the availability and cost of financing, and issues arising from possible discovery of new environmental contamination and the need to conduct environmental remediation. Occupancy rates and rents at any particular redeveloped property may fail to meet our original expectations for reasons beyond our control, including changes in market and economic conditions and the development by competitors of competing properties. We could experience increased and unexpected costs or significant delays or abandonment of some or all of these redevelopment opportunities. For any of the above-described reasons, and others, we may determine to abandon opportunities that we have already begun to explore or with respect to which we have commenced redevelopment efforts and, as a result, we may fail to recover expenses already incurred. We cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully redevelop and lease any of our identified opportunities or that our overall redevelopment program will be successful. Consequences arising from or in connection with any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

Risks Related to Our Status as a REIT

Failure to qualify as a REIT under the federal income tax laws would have adverse consequences to our stockholders. Uncertain tax matters may have a significant impact on the results of operations for any single fiscal year or interim period or may cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT.

We elected to be treated as a REIT under the federal income tax laws beginning January 1, 2001. To qualify for taxation as a REIT, we must, among other requirements such as those related to the composition of our assets and gross income, distribute annually to our stockholders at least 90% of our taxable income, including taxable income that is accrued by us without a corresponding receipt of cash. Accordingly, we generally will not be subject to federal income tax on qualifying REIT income, provided that distributions to our stockholders equal at least the amount of our taxable income as defined under the Internal Revenue Code. But, we may have to borrow money or sell assets to satisfy such distribution requirements even if the then prevailing market conditions are not favorable for these borrowings. Many of the REIT requirements are highly technical and complex. If we were to fail to meet the requirements, we may be subject to federal income tax, excise taxes, penalties and interest or we may have to pay a deficiency dividend. We may have to borrow money or sell assets to pay such a deficiency dividend.

We cannot guarantee that we will continue to qualify in the future as a REIT. We cannot give any assurance that new legislation, regulations, administrative interpretations or court decisions will not significantly change the requirements relating to our qualification. If we fail to qualify as a REIT, we would not be allowed a deduction for distributions to stockholders in computing our taxable income and will again be subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates, we could be subject to the federal alternative minimum taxfor taxable years beginning before 2019, we could be required to pay significant income taxes and we would have less money available for our operations and distributions to stockholders. This would likely have a significant adverse effect on the value of our securities. We could also be precluded from treatment as a REIT for four taxable years following the year in which we lost the qualification, and all distributions to stockholders would be taxable as regular corporate dividends to the extent of our current and accumulated earnings and profits. Loss of our REIT status could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

The U.S. federal income tax treatment of the cash that we might receive from cash settlement of a forward sale agreement under our at-the market equity offering program is unclear and could jeopardize our ability to meet the REIT qualification requirements.

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In the event that we elect to settle any forward sale agreement for cash and the settlement price is below the applicable forward sale price, we would be entitled to receive a cash payment from the relevant Forward Purchaser. Under Section 1032 of the Code, generally, no gains and losses are recognized by a corporation in dealing in its own shares, including pursuant to a “securities futures contract,” as defined in the Code by reference to the Exchange Act. Although we believe that any amount received by us in exchange for our stock would qualify for the exemption under Section 1032 of the Code, because it is not entirely clear whether a forward sale agreement qualifies as a “securities futures contract,” the U.S. federal income tax treatment of any cash settlement payment we receive is uncertain. In the event that we recognize a significant gain from the cash settlement of a forward sale agreement, we might not be able to satisfy the gross income requirements applicable to REITs under the Code. In that case, we may be able to rely upon the relief provisions under the Code in order to avoid the loss of our REIT status. Even if the relief provisions apply, we will be subject to a 100% tax on the greater of (i) the excess of 75% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) over the amount of such income attributable to sources that qualify under the 75% test or (ii) the excess of 95% of our gross income (excluding gross income from prohibited transactions) over the amount of such gross income attributable to sources that qualify under the 95% test, multiplied in either case by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. In the event that these relief provisions were not available, we could lose our REIT status under the Code.

There is a risk of changes in the tax law applicable to real estate investment trusts.

Because the IRS, the United States Treasury Department and Congress frequently review federal income tax legislation, we cannot predict whether, when or to what extent new federal tax laws, regulations, interpretations or rulings will be adopted. Any of such legislative actions may prospectively or retroactively modify our tax treatment and, therefore, may adversely affect taxation of us and/or our investors.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, or the TCJA, as amended by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or the CARES Act, has significantly changed the U.S. federal income taxation of U.S. businesses and their owners, including REITs and their shareholders. Changes made by the TCJA and the CARES Act that could affect us and our shareholders include:

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temporarily reducing individual U.S. federal income tax rates on ordinary income; the highest individual U.S. federal income tax rate has been reduced from 39.6% to 37% for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026;

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permanently eliminating the progressive corporate tax rate structure, with a maximum corporate tax rate of 35%, and replacing it with a flat corporate tax rate of 21%;

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permitting a deduction for certain pass-through business income, including dividends received by our shareholders from us that are not designated by us as capital gain dividends or qualified dividend income, which will generally allow individuals, trusts, and estates to deduct up to 20% of such amounts for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017 and before January 1, 2026;

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reducing the highest rate of withholding with respect to our distributions to non-U.S. stockholders that are treated as attributable to gains from the sale or exchange of U.S. real property interests from 35% to 21%;

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limiting our deduction for net operating losses to 80% of REIT taxable income (prior to the application of the dividends paid deduction) for taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020;

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generally limiting the deduction for net business interest expense in excess of a specified percentage (50% for taxable years beginning in 2019 and 2020 and 30% for subsequent taxable years) of a business’s adjusted taxable income except for taxpayers that engage in certain real estate businesses and elect out of this rule (provided that such electing taxpayers must use an alternative depreciation system for certain property); and

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eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax.

You are urged to consult with your tax advisor with respect to the status of legislative, regulatory, judicial or administrative developments and proposals and their potential effect on an investment in our securities.

U.S. federal tax reform legislation could affect REITs generally, our tenants, the markets in which we operate, the price of our common stock and our results of operations, in ways, both positively and negatively, that are difficult to predict.

Certain federal tax legislation more specifically described above (the “2017 Legislation”) included significant changes to corporate and individual tax rates and the calculation of taxes. As a REIT, we are generally not required to pay federal taxes otherwise applicable to regular corporations if we distribute all of our income and comply with the various tax rules governing REITs. Stockholders, however, are generally required to pay taxes on REIT dividends. The 2017 Legislation changed the way in which dividends paid on our stock are taxed by the holder of that stock and could impact the price of our common stock or how stockholders and potential investors view an investment in REITs. In addition, while certain elements of the 2017 Legislation do not impact us directly as a REIT, they could impact our tenants and the markets in which we operate in ways, both positive and negative, that are difficult to predict.

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Prospective stockholders are urged to consult with their tax advisors with respect to the 2017 Legislation and any other regulatory or administrative developments and proposals and the potential effects thereof on an investment in our common stock.

In order to preserve our REIT status, our charter limits the number of shares a person may own, which may discourage a takeover that could result in a premium price for our common stock or otherwise benefit our stockholders.

Our charter, with certain exceptions, authorizes our Board of Directors to take such actions as are necessary and desirable to preserve our qualification as a REIT for federal income tax purposes. Unless exempted by our Board of Directors, no person may (i) own, or be deemed to own by virtue of certain constructive ownership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, in excess of 5.0% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of our common stock or (ii) own, or be deemed to own by virtue of certain other constructive ownership provisions of the Internal Revenue Code, in excess of 9.9% (by value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock, which may discourage large investors from purchasing our stock. This restriction may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control, including an extraordinary transaction (such as a merger, tender offer or sale of all or substantially all of our assets) that might provide a premium price for our common stock or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Securities

Changes in market conditions could adversely affect the market price of our publicly traded common stock.

As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of our publicly traded common stock depends on various market conditions, which may change from time-to-time. Among the market conditions that may affect the market price of our publicly traded common stock are the following: our financial condition and performance and that of our significant tenants; the market’s perception of our growth potential and potential future earnings; the reputation of REITs generally and the reputation of REITs with portfolios similar to us; the attractiveness of the securities of REITs in comparison to securities issued by other entities (including securities issued by other real estate companies); an increase in market interest rates, which may lead prospective investors to demand a higher distribution rate in relation to the price paid for publicly traded securities; the extent of institutional investor interest in us; and general economic and financial market conditions.

We may change our dividend policy and the dividends we pay may be subject to significant volatility.

The decision to declare and pay dividends on our common stock in the future, as well as the timing, amount and composition of any such future dividends, will be at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon such factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant and the dividend paid may vary from expected amounts. Any change in our dividend policy could adversely affect our business and the market price of our common stock. In addition, the credit and note purchase agreements governing our borrowings prohibit the payments of dividends during certain events of default. No assurance can be given that our financial performance in the future will permit our payment of any dividends or that the amount of dividends we pay, if any, will not fluctuate significantly. Under the Maryland General Corporation Law (“MGCL”), our ability to pay dividends would be restricted if, after payment of the dividend, (i) we would not be able to pay indebtedness as it becomes due in the usual course of business or (ii) our total assets would be less than the sum of our liabilities plus the amount that would be needed, if we were to be dissolved, to satisfy the rights of any stockholders with liquidation preferences. There currently are no stockholders with liquidation preferences.

No assurance can be given that our financial performance in the future will permit our payment of any dividends. The credit and note purchase agreements governing our borrowings contain customary financial covenants such as availability, leverage and coverage ratios and minimum tangible net worth, as well as limitations on restricted payments, which may limit our ability to incur additional debt or pay dividends. As a result of the factors described above, we may experience material fluctuations in future operating results on a quarterly or annual basis, which could materially and adversely affect our business, stock price and ability to pay dividends.

Future issuances of equity securities could dilute the interest of holders of our equity securities.

Our future growth depends upon our ability to raise additional capital. If we were to raise additional capital through the issuance of equity securities, such issuance, the receipt of the net proceeds thereof and the use of such proceeds may have a dilutive effect on our expected earnings per share, funds from operations per share and adjusted funds from operations per share. The actual amount of such dilution cannot be determined at this time and will be based on numerous factors. Additionally, we are not restricted from issuing additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock, including any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or preferred stock or any substantially similar securities in the future. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of sales of a large number of shares of our common stock in the market after an offering or the perception that such sales could occur.

Provisions contained in a forward sale agreement under our at-the-market equity offering program could result in substantial dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity or result in substantial cash payment obligations.

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We have previously entered into forward sale agreements and may in the future enter into additional forward sale agreements, including under our at-the-market equity offering program, that subject us to certain risks. If we enter into one or more forward sale agreements in connection with the at-the-market equity offering program, the relevant Forward Purchaser (as defined in such forward sale agreement) will have the right to accelerate its forward sale agreement (with respect to all or any portion of the transaction under such forward sale agreement that the Forward Purchaser determines is affected by an event described below) and require us to physically settle on a date specified by such Forward Purchaser if:

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in such Forward Purchaser’s good faith, commercially reasonable judgment, it or its affiliate (x) is unable to hedge its exposure under such forward sale agreement because an insufficient number of shares of our common stock have been made available for borrowing by securities lenders or (y) would incur a stock loan cost in excess of a specified threshold to hedge its exposure under such forward sale agreement;

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we declare any dividend, issue or distribution on shares of our common stock (a) payable in cash in excess of specified amounts (unless it is an extraordinary dividend), (b) payable in securities of another company that we acquire or own (directly or indirectly) as a result of a spin-off or similar transaction, or (c) payable in any other type of securities (other than shares of our common stock), rights, warrants or other assets for payment at less than the prevailing market price;

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certain ownership thresholds applicable to such Forward Purchaser and its affiliates are exceeded;

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an event is announced that if consummated would result in a specified extraordinary event (including certain mergers or tender offers, as well as certain events involving our nationalization, or insolvency, or a delisting of shares of our common stock) or the occurrence of a change in law under such forward sale agreement; or

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certain other events of default or termination events occur, including, among others, any material misrepresentation made in connection with such forward sale agreement (each as more fully described in each forward sale agreement).

A Forward Purchaser’s decision to exercise its right to accelerate the physical settlement of any forward sale agreement and require us to physically settle on a date specified by such Forward Purchaser will be made irrespective of our interests, including our need for capital. In such cases, we could be required to issue and deliver shares of shares of our common stock under the physical settlement provisions of the applicable forward sale agreement, irrespective of our capital needs, which would result in dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity.

We expect that settlement of any forward sale agreement will generally occur no later than the date specified in the particular forward sale agreement, which will be no earlier than three months or later than two years following the trade date of that forward sale agreement. However, any forward sale agreement may be settled earlier than that specified date in whole or in part at our option. Subject to certain conditions, we have the right to elect physical, cash or net share settlement under each forward sale agreement. We intend to physically settle each forward sale agreement by delivery of shares of our common stock. However, we may elect to cash settle or net share settle such forward sale agreement. Delivery of shares of our common stock upon physical settlement (or, if we elect net share settlement of a particular forward sale agreement, upon such settlement to the extent we are obligated to deliver shares of our common stock) will result in dilution to our earnings per share and return on equity. If we elect cash settlement or net share settlement with respect to all or a portion of the shares of common stock underlying a particular forward sale agreement, we expect the applicable Forward Purchaser (or an affiliate thereof) to purchase a number of shares of our common stock in secondary market transactions over an unwind period to:

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return shares of our common stock to securities lenders in order to unwind such Forward Purchaser’s hedge (after taking into consideration any shares of our common stock to be delivered by us to such Forward Purchaser, in the case of net share settlement); and

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if applicable, in the case of net share settlement, deliver shares of our common stock to us to the extent required in settlement of such forward sale agreement.

The purchase of shares of our common stock in connection with a Forward Purchaser or its affiliate unwinding such Forward Purchaser’s hedge positions could cause the price of shares of our common stock to increase over such time (or prevent a decrease over such time), thereby increasing the amount of cash we would owe to such Forward Purchaser (or decreasing the amount of cash that such Forward Purchaser would owe to us) upon a cash settlement of the relevant forward sale agreement or increasing the number of shares of our common stock we would deliver to such Forward Purchaser (or decreasing the number of shares of our common stock that such Forward Purchaser would deliver to us) upon net share settlement of the relevant forward sale agreement.

The forward sale price that we expect to receive upon physical settlement of a particular forward sale agreement will be subject to adjustment on a daily basis based on a floating interest rate factor equal to the overnight bank rate less a spread and will be decreased based on amounts related to expected dividends on shares of our common stock during the term of the applicable forward sale agreement. If the overnight bank rate is less than the spread for a particular forward sale agreement on any day, the interest factor will result in a daily reduction of the applicable forward sale price. If the volume-weighted average price at which a particular Forward Purchaser (or its affiliate) is able to purchase (or is deemed able to purchase) shares during the applicable unwind period under a particular forward

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sale agreement is above the relevant forward sale price, in the case of cash settlement, we would pay the relevant Forward Purchaser under such forward sale agreement an amount in cash equal to the difference or, in the case of net share settlement, we would deliver to such Forward Purchaser a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to the difference. Thus, we could be responsible for a potentially substantial cash payment in the case of cash settlement. If the volume-weighted average price at which a particular Forward Purchaser (or its affiliate) is able to purchase (or is deemed able to purchase) shares during the applicable unwind period under that particular forward sale agreement is below the relevant forward sale price, in the case of cash settlement, we would be paid the difference in cash by the relevant Forward Purchaser under that particular forward sale agreement or, in the case of net share settlement, we would receive from such Forward Purchaser a number of shares of our common stock having a value equal to the difference.

In case of our bankruptcy or insolvency, any forward sale agreement under our at-the-market equity offering program that is in effect will automatically terminate, and we would not receive the expected proceeds from any forward sales of shares of our common stock.

If we or a regulatory authority with jurisdiction over us institutes, or we consent to, a proceeding seeking a judgment in bankruptcy or insolvency or any other relief under any bankruptcy or insolvency law or other similar law affecting creditors’ rights, or we or a regulatory authority with jurisdiction over us presents a petition for our winding-up or liquidation, or we consent to such a petition, any forward sale agreement that is then in effect will automatically terminate. If any such forward sale agreement so terminates under these circumstances, we would not be obligated to deliver to the relevant Forward Purchaser any shares of common stock not previously delivered, and the relevant Forward Purchaser would be discharged from its obligation to pay the applicable forward sale price per share in respect of any shares of common stock not previously settled under the applicable forward sale agreement. Therefore, to the extent that there are any shares of common stock with respect to which any forward sale agreement has not been settled at the time of the commencement of any such bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings, we would not receive the relevant forward sale price per share in respect of those shares of common stock.

Maryland law may discourage a third-party from acquiring us.

We are subject to the provisions of the Maryland Business Combination Act (the “Business Combination Act”) which prohibits transactions between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Generally, pursuant to the Business Combination Act, an “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of a Maryland corporation’s voting stock. These provisions could have the effect of delaying, preventing or deterring a change in control of our Company or reducing the price that certain investors might be willing to pay in the future for shares of our capital stock. Additionally, the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act may deny voting rights to shares involved in an acquisition of one-tenth or more of the voting stock of a Maryland corporation. In our charter and bylaws, we have elected not to have the Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of our Company. However, in the case of the control share acquisition statute, our Board of Directors may opt to make this statute applicable to us at any time by amending our bylaws, and may do so on a retroactive basis. Finally, the “unsolicited takeovers” provisions of the MGCL permit our Board of Directors, without stockholder approval and regardless of what is currently provided in our charter or bylaws, to implement certain provisions that may have the effect of inhibiting a third-party from making an acquisition proposal for our Company or of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our Company under circumstances that otherwise could provide the holders of our common stock with the opportunity to realize a premium over the then current market price or that stockholders may otherwise believe is in their best interests; however, on February 23, 2022, our Board of Directors adopted a resolution prohibiting us from electing to be subject to the classified board provisions of Section 3-803 of the MGCL, unless such election is first approved by the stockholders of the Corporation by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the votes cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 1C. Cybersecurity

Risk Management and Strategy

We have developed and implemented a cybersecurity risk management program intended to protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our critical systems and information. Our cybersecurity risk management program includes the implementation of a cybersecurity incident response plan.

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We design and assess our program based on industry standards to align closely with information security frameworks and guidelines. This does not imply that we meet or are in compliance with any particular technical standards, specifications, or requirements, only that we use the frameworks as a guide to help us identify, assess, and manage cybersecurity risks relevant to our business.

Our cybersecurity risk management program is integrated into our overall enterprise risk management program, and shares common methodologies, reporting channels and governance processes that apply across the enterprise risk management program to other legal, compliance, strategic, operational, and financial risk areas.

We utilize a commercially available third-party hosted cloud network environment with commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security to protect its information and data and alert it to potential information security breaches. The third party engaged by us to oversee and host its network was engaged, in part, because of its experience with information security and data protection and products designed to manage against information and data security breaches. We conduct mandatory annual cybersecurity training for employees and have information security and data privacy policies and procedures in place applicable to our directors, officers, and employees.

In 2022, we engaged an outside consultant to conduct a comprehensive cybersecurity assessment, the methodology for which was based on information security frameworks and guidelines such as the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Center for Information Security (CIS), and ISO27001. Management reviewed the results of the assessment with the Audit Committee and, throughout 2023, engaged with consultants, auditors, and other third parties to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents through various means. To date we had no cybersecurity incidents.

For additional information, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors - We rely on information technology in our operations, and any material failure, inadequacy, interruption or security failure of that technology could harm our business. Additionally, our failure to comply with applicable privacy, data security or protection or cyber security laws could adversely affect our business.”

Management and Board Oversight

Our Board of Directors actively considers cybersecurity risk as part of its risk oversight function and has delegated oversight of cybersecurity and other information technology risk to the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee is instrumental in overseeing the implementation of our cybersecurity risk management program by management.

The Audit Committee receives detailed quarterly reports from management about our cybersecurity risks, and management provides timely updates to the Audit Committee about any significant cybersecurity incidents, as well as those with lesser impact potential if deemed appropriate to do so.

The Audit Committee informs the full Board of Directors about its activities, including those related to cybersecurity. The full Board of Directors also receives briefings from management on our cybersecurity risk management program. Members of the Board of Directors are kept abreast of cybersecurity developments through presentations by our Chief Financial Officer or external experts as part of their ongoing education on issues impacting public companies.

Our management team, including our Chief Financial Officer, and members of the Audit Committee play a pivotal role in assessing and managing material risks stemming from cybersecurity threats. The management team is primarily responsible for the oversight of our overall cybersecurity risk management program, and coordinates with our external cybersecurity consultants.

Efforts to prevent, detect, mitigate, and remediate cybersecurity risks and incidents are supervised by our management team. These efforts include briefings from internal security personnel, leveraging threat intelligence and information from governmental, public, and private sources, engagement with external consultants, and utilizing alerts and reports generated by our security tools within the IT environment.

Item 2.Properties

Substantially all of our properties are leased on a triple-net basis to convenience store operators, petroleum distributors, express tunnel car wash operators and other automotive-related and retail tenants. Our tenants are responsible for the operations conducted at our properties, including the payment of all taxes, maintenance, repair, insurance and other operating expenses. We manage and evaluate our operations as a single segment.

We independently obtain and maintain a program of insurance which we believe adequately covers our owned and leased properties for casualty and liability risks. Our insurance program is underwritten in view of primary insurance coverages which we require to be provided by most of our tenants for properties they lease from us, including in respect to casualty, liability, pollution legal liability, fire and extended coverage risks.

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The following table summarizes the geographic distribution of our properties as of December 31, 2023. In addition, we lease approximately 11,100 square feet of office space at 292 Madison Avenue, New York, New York for our corporate headquarters, which we believe will remain suitable and adequate for such purposes for the immediate future.

Mississippi 3 — 3 0.3

North Dakota 2 — 2 0.2

Rhode Island 2 — 2 0.2

Washington, D.C. 2 — 2 0.2

West Virginia 1 — 1 0.1

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The properties that we lease from third parties have a remaining lease term, including renewal and extension option terms, averaging approximately 8.0 years. The following table sets forth information regarding lease expirations, including renewal and extension option terms, for properties that we lease from third parties:

For the year ended December 31, 2023, revenues from rental properties, which includes base rental income, additional rental income, if any, and certain GAAP revenue recognition adjustments, were $180.5 million, an average of approximately $169 thousand per property given the 1,068 average rental properties held during the year. For the year ended December 31, 2022, revenues from rental properties were $163.9 million, an average of $160 thousand per property given the 1,025 average rental properties held during the year. Rental property lease expirations and annualized base rent (“ABR”) as of December 31, 2023 are as follows (dollars in thousands):

Number ofProperties (a) ABR (b) Percentageof Total ABR

Redevelopment 2 — —

Vacant 2 — —

(a)

With respect to a unitary master lease that includes properties that we lease from third-parties, the expiration dates refer to the dates that the leases with the third-parties expire and upon which date our tenant must vacate those properties, not the expiration date of the unitary master lease itself.

(b)

Represents the monthly base rent due from tenants under existing leases as of December 31, 2023, multiplied by 12.

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

We are involved in various legal proceedings, many of which we consider to be routine and incidental to our business. Many of these legal proceedings involve claims relating to alleged discharges of petroleum into the environment at current and former gasoline stations. We routinely assess our liabilities and contingencies in connection with these matters based upon the latest available information. The following is a description of material legal proceedings, including those involving private parties and governmental authorities under federal, state and local laws regulating the discharge of hazardous substances into the environment. We are vigorously defending all of the legal proceedings against us, including each of the legal proceedings listed below. As of December 31, 2023 we had no amounts accrued and, as of December 31, 2022, we had $0.3 million accrued for certain of these matters which we believe were appropriate based on information then currently available. It is possible that losses related to these legal proceedings could exceed the amounts accrued as of December 31, 2023, and that such additional losses could cause a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, ability to pay dividends or stock price.

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MTBE Litigation – State of Pennsylvania

On July 7, 2014, our subsidiary, Getty Properties Corp., was served with a complaint filed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (the “State”) in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County relating to alleged statewide MTBE contamination in Pennsylvania. The named plaintiff is the State, by and through (then) Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane (as Trustee of the waters of the State), the Pennsylvania Insurance Department (which governs and administers the Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund), the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (vested with the authority to protect the environment) and the Pennsylvania Underground Storage Tank Indemnification Fund. The complaint names us and more than 50 other defendants, including Exxon Mobil, Atlantic Richfield Company, BP, Buckeye Refining Company, Chevron, Citgo, ConocoPhillips, Cumberland Farms, Energy Transfer Partners L.P., Gulf, Lukoil Americas, Getty Petroleum Marketing Inc., Marathon Oil, Hess, Pennzoil Company, Shell Oil, Sunoco, Texaco, Valero, as well as other petroleum manufacturers, refiners, transporters, distributors and retailers of MTBE or gasoline containing MTBE who are alleged to have manufactured, distributed, stored and sold MTBE gasoline in Pennsylvania. The complaint seeks compensation for natural resource damages and for injuries sustained as a result of “defendants’ unfair and deceptive trade practices and act in the marketing of MTBE and gasoline containing MTBE.” The plaintiffs also seek to recover costs paid or incurred by the State to detect, treat and remediate MTBE from public and private water wells and groundwater. The plaintiffs assert causes of action against all defendants based on multiple theories, including strict liability – defective design; strict liability – failure to warn; public nuisance; negligence; trespass; and violation of consumer protection law.

The case was filed in the Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia County, but was removed by defendants to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania and then transferred to the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York so that it may be managed as part of the ongoing MTBE MDL proceedings. In November 2015, plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint naming additional defendants and adding factual allegations against the defendants. We joined with other defendants in the filing of a motion to dismiss the claims against us, which was granted in part and denied in part.

The discovery phase of the litigation is now closed, and active pretrial motion practice is ongoing. The State has filed a motion to remand the case to the Eastern District of Pennsylvania for trial, though a trial date is yet to be scheduled. Multiple defendants in the case have settled with the plaintiff. We continue to vigorously defend the claims made against us. Our ultimate liability in this proceeding is uncertain and subject to numerous contingencies, the outcome of which are not yet known.

MTBE Litigation – State of Maryland

On December 17, 2017, the State of Maryland, by and through the Attorney General on behalf of the Maryland Department of Environment and the Maryland Department of Health (the “State of Maryland”), filed a complaint in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City related to alleged statewide MTBE contamination in Maryland. The complaint was served upon us on January 19, 2018. The complaint names us and more than 60 other defendants, including Exxon Mobil, APEX Oil, Astra Oil, Atlantic Richfield, BP, Chevron, Citgo, ConocoPhillips, Hess, Kinder Morgan, Lukoil, Marathon, Shell, Sunoco, Texaco, Valero, Cumberland Farms, Duke Energy, El Paso Merchant Energy-Petroleum, Energy Transfer Partners, Equilon Enterprises, ETP Holdco, George E. Warren Corporation, Getty Petroleum Marketing, Inc., Gulf, Guttman Energy, Hartree Partners, Holtzman Oil, Motiva Enterprises, Nustar Terminals Operations Partnership, Phillips 66, Premcor, 7-Eleven, Sheetz, Total Petrochemicals & Refining USA, Transmontaigne Product Services, Vitol S.A., WAWA, and Western Refining. The complaint seeks compensation for natural resource damages and for injuries sustained as a result of the defendants’ unfair and deceptive trade practices in the marketing of MTBE and gasoline containing MTBE. The plaintiffs also seek to recover costs paid or incurred by the State of Maryland to detect, investigate, treat and remediate MTBE from public and private water wells and groundwater, punitive damages and the award of attorneys’ fees and litigation costs. The plaintiffs assert causes of action against all defendants based on multiple theories, including strict liability – defective design; strict liability – failure to warn; strict liability for abnormally dangerous activity; public nuisance; negligence; trespass; and violations of Titles 4, 7 and 9 of the Maryland Environmental Code.

On February 14, 2018, defendants removed the case to the United States District Court for the District of Maryland. We are vigorously defending the claims made against us. Our ultimate liability, if any, in this proceeding is uncertain and subject to numerous contingencies the outcome of which are not yet known.

Matters related to our former Newark, New Jersey Terminal and the Lower Passaic River

In 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) issued General Notice Letters (“GNL”) to over 100 entities, including us, alleging that they are potentially responsible parties (“PRPs”) with respect to a 17-mile stretch of the Passaic River from Dundee Dam to the Newark Bay and its tributaries (the Lower Passaic River Study Area or “LPRSA”). The LPRSA is part of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site (“Superfund Site”) that includes the former Diamond Shamrock Corporation manufacturing facility located at 80-120 Lister Ave. in Newark, New Jersey (the “Diamond Shamrock Facility”), the LPRSA, and the Newark Bay Study Area (i.e., Newark Bay and portions of surrounding rivers and channels). One of the GNL recipients is Occidental Chemical Corporation (“Occidental”), the predecessor to the former owner/operator of the Diamond Shamrock Facility responsible for the discharge of 2,3,8,8-TCDD (“dioxin”) and other hazardous substances. In May 2007, over 70 GNL recipients, including us, entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (“AOC”) with the EPA to perform a Remedial Investigation and Feasibility Study

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(“RI/FS”) for the LPRSA to address investigation and evaluation of alternative remedial actions with respect to alleged damages to the entire 17-mile LPRSA, which the EPA has designated Operable Unit 4 or “OU4”. Many of the parties to the AOC, including us, are also members of a Cooperating Parties Group (“CPG”). In 2015, the CPG submitted a draft RI/FS to the EPA setting forth various alternatives for remediating the LPRSA. In October 2018, the EPA issued a letter directing the CPG to prepare a streamlined feasibility study for just the upper 9-miles of the LPRSA based on an iterative approach using adaptive management strategies. On December 4, 2020, the CPG submitted a Final Draft Interim Remedy Feasibility Study (“IR/FS”) to the EPA which identified various targeted dredge and cap alternatives for the upper 9-miles of the LPRSA. On September 28, 2021, the EPA issued a Record of Decision (“ROD”) for the upper 9-mile IR/FS (“Upper 9-mile IR ROD”) consisting of dredging and capping to control sediment sources of dioxin and PCBs at an estimated cost of $441. 0 million.

In addition to the RI/FS activities, in June 2012, certain members of the CPG entered into an Administrative Settlement Agreement and Order on Consent (“10.9 AOC”) with the EPA to perform certain remediation activities, including removal and capping of sediments at the river mile 10.9 area and certain testing, which remedial work has been completed. Concurrent with the CPG’s work on the RI/FS, on April 11, 2014, the EPA issued a draft Focused Feasibility Study (“FFS”) with proposed remedial alternatives to remediate the lower 8.3-miles of the LPRSA. On March 4, 2016, the EPA issued a ROD for the lower 8.3-miles (“Lower 8-mile ROD”) selecting a remedy that involves bank-to-bank dredging and installing an engineered cap with an estimated cost of $1.38 billion.

On March 31, 2016, the EPA issued a “Notice of Potential Liability and Commencement of Negotiations for Remedial Design” (“Notice”) to more than 100 PRPs, including us, which informed the recipients that the EPA intends to seek an Administrative Order on Consent and Settlement Agreement with Occidental (who the EPA considers the primary contributor of dioxin and other pesticides generated from the production of Agent Orange at its Diamond Shamrock Facility and a discharger of other contaminants of concern (“COCs”) to the Superfund Site) requiring Occidental to prepare the remedial design of the remedy selected in the Lower 8-mile ROD. The EPA has designated the lower 8.3 miles of the LPRSA as Operable Unit 2 or “OU2”, which is geographically subsumed within OU4. On September 30, 2016, Occidental entered into an agreement with the EPA to perform the remedial design for OU2.

By letter dated March 30, 2017, the EPA advised the recipients of the Notice that it would be entering into cash out settlements with certain PRPs who the EPA stated did not discharge any of the eight hazardous substances identified as a COC in the Lower 8-mile ROD to resolve their alleged liability for OU2. Cash out settlements were finalized in 2018 and 2021 with a total of 21 PRPs. The EPA’s March 30, 2017 letter also stated that other parties who did not discharge dioxins, furans or polychlorinated biphenyls (which are considered the COCs posing the greatest risk to the river) may also be eligible for cash out settlements, and that the EPA would begin a process for identifying such other PRPs for negotiation of future cash out settlements and to initiate negotiations with Occidental and other major PRPs for the implementation and funding of the OU2 remedy. In August 2017, the EPA appointed an independent third-party allocation expert to conduct a confidential allocation proceeding that would assign non-binding shares of responsibility to PRPs identified by EPA for cash out settlements. Most of the PRPs identified by EPA, including the Company, participated in the allocation process. Occidental did not participate in the allocation proceedings, but filed a complaint on June 30, 2018, listing over 120 defendants, including us, in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey seeking cost recovery and contribution under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act for response costs incurred and to be incurred relating to the LPRSA, including the investigation, design, and anticipated implementation of the OU2 remedy (the “Occidental Lawsuit”). We continue to defend the claims asserted in the Occidental Lawsuit individually and in coordination with a group of several other named defendants known as the “Small Parties Group” or “SPG” consistent with our defenses in the related proceedings. On January 5, 2024, the Court entered an Order to Stay the Occidental Lawsuit pending the Court’s adjudication of a Motion to Enter the Modified Consent Decree filed by the United States on January 31, 2024, as discussed below.

The allocator issued a final Allocation Recommendation Report in December 2020, which was based upon an allocation methodology approved by EPA that contains associated allocation shares for each of the parties invited to participate in the allocation, including Occidental - who the allocator concluded was responsible for more than 99% of the costs to implement the OU2 remedy. As a result of the allocation process, the EPA and 85 parties (the “Settling Parties”), including us, began settlement negotiations and reached an agreement on a cash-out settlement to resolve their alleged liability for the remediation of the entire LPRSA. The EPA concluded that the Settling Parties, individually and collectively, were responsible for only a minor share of the response costs incurred and to be incurred at or in connection with implementing the OU2 and OU4 remedies for the entire 17-mile Lower Passaic River.

In December 2022, the EPA and the Settling Parties finalized their agreement in a proposed consent decree (“CD”), pursuant to which and without admitting liability, the Settling Parties agree to pay EPA the collective sum of $150.0 million in exchange for contribution protection from claims by non-settling PRPs (including Occidental) for the matters addressed in the CD and the issuance of a notice of completion by EPA of both the 2007 RI/FS AOC and the 10.9 AOC, upon completion of certain defined tasks in the CD. All 85 Settling Parties contributed to an escrow account agreed upon shares of the settlement amount, which are subject to a confidentiality agreement. Our settlement contribution is in line with our legal reserves previously established. On December 16, 2022, the United States filed an action in the New Jersey District Court against the Settling Defendants which included lodging of the proposed CD to resolve claims against the Settling Parties for costs associated with cleaning up the LPRSA. This action (the “CD Action”) is subject to public comment and court approval. On December 22, 2022, the EPA published a notice of lodging of the proposed CD in the Federal Register, opening a 45-day public comment period, which was subsequently extended to 90-days. On December 23, 2022,

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Occidental filed a motion to intervene in the CD Action, and subsequently filed voluminous comments objecting to the entry of the proposed CD. On January 17, 2024, the United States informed the Court that it completed reviewing public comments, including those from Occidental, and found no reasons to consider the proposed CD as inappropriate, improper, or inadequate. Nevertheless, the United States decided that certain limited changes to the CD should be made prior to moving for approval thereof. These changes involved removing three parties and a modification to the United States' reservation of rights. The remaining 82 Settling Parties, including us, concurred with these changes, leading to the United States filing the Modified Consent Decree (“Modified CD”), with the Court on the same day, January 17, 2024. On January 31, 2024, the United States filed a copy of all public comments received on the proposed CD, its Response to the public comments and a Motion to Enter the Modified CD. The Motion to Enter the Modified CD and accompanying memorandum of law states that the United States has determined that the proposed settlement is reasonable, fair and consistent with the statutory purpose of CERCLA. The Court has issued an order requiring that responses to the Motion to Enter the Modified CD be filed by April 1, 2024, and any replies to these responses are due by May 1, 2024, prior to adjudication of the motion.

If the Modified CD is approved in its current form, our alleged liability to the EPA and to any non-settling parties, including Occidental, for the remediation of the entire 17-mile Lower Passaic River and its tributaries will be resolved. If the District Court does not approve the Modified CD, then, based on currently known facts and circumstances, including, among other factors, the EPA’s conclusion that we are individually and collectively with numerous other parties only responsible for a minor share of the response costs incurred or to be incurred in connection with the LPRSA, our relative participation in the costs related to the 2007 AOC and 10.9 AOC, our belief that there was not any use or discharge of dioxins, furans or polychlorinated biphenyls in connection with our former petroleum storage operations at our former Newark, New Jersey Terminal, and that there are numerous other parties who will likely bear the costs of remediation and/or damages, we do not believe that resolution of the Lower Passaic River proceedings as relates to us is reasonably likely to have a material impact on our results of operations. Nevertheless, if the Modified CD is not approved by the District Court in its current form, performance of the EPA’s selected remedies for the LPRSA may be subject to future negotiation, potential enforcement proceedings and/or possible litigation and, on this basis, our ultimate liability in the pending and possible future proceedings pertaining to the LPRSA remains uncertain and subject to contingencies which cannot be predicted and the outcome of which are not yet known. In prior years, we have established an estimated legal reserve and subsequently transferred funds to an escrow account based on likelihoods reasonably known to us at this time, however it is possible that circumstances may change and losses related to the Lower Passaic River proceedings could exceed the amounts we have accrued.

For additional information see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in this Form 10-K.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Capital Stock

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (symbol: GTY). There were approximately 41,283 beneficial holders of our common stock as of February 1, 2024, of which approximately 802 were holders of record.

For a discussion of potential limitations on our ability to pay future dividends see “Item 1A. Risk Factors – We may change our dividend policy and the dividends we pay may be subject to significant volatility” and “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

None.

Sales of Unregistered Securities

None.

Stock Performance Graph

Comparison of Five-Year Cumulative Total Return*

Assumes $100 invested at the close of the last day of trading on the New York Stock Exchange on December 31, 2018, in Getty Realty Corp. common stock, Standard & Poor’s 500 and Peer Group.

* Cumulative total return assumes reinvestment of dividends. Source: SNL Financial.

We have chosen as our Peer Group the following companies: Agree Realty Corporation, EPR Properties, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Four Corners Properties Trust, NETSTREIT Corp., and One Liberty Properties. We have chosen these companies as our

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Peer Group because a substantial segment of each of their businesses is to own and lease single tenant net lease retail properties. We cannot assure you that our stock performance will continue in the future with the same or similar trends depicted in the performance graph above. We do not make or endorse any predictions as to future stock performance.

The above performance graph and related information shall not be deemed filed for the purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any filing that we make under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act.

Item 6.Reserved

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is intended to help the reader understand our operations and our present business environment from the perspective of management. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements”; the sections in Part I entitled “Item 1A. Risk Factors”; and the consolidated financial statements and related notes in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”. We use certain non-GAAP measures that are more fully described below under the caption “—Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures,” which we believe are appropriate supplemental non-GAAP measures of the performance of REITs used by our management, as well as REIT analysts.

This section of this Form 10-K generally discusses 2023 and 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2023 and 2022. Discussions of 2022 items and year-to-year comparisons between 2022 and 2021 that are not included in this Form 10-K can be found in "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in Part II, Item 7 of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022.

General

Real Estate Investment Trust

We are a net lease REIT specializing in the acquisition, financing and development of convenience, automotive and other single tenant retail real estate. Our portfolio is comprised of convenience stores, express tunnel car washes, automotive service centers (gasoline and repair, oil and maintenance, tire and battery, and collision), automotive parts retailers, and certain other freestanding retail properties, including drive-thru quick service restaurants. As of December 31, 2023, our portfolio included 1,093 properties, including 1,056 properties owned by us and 37 properties that we leased from third-party landlords. As a REIT, we are not subject to federal corporate income tax on the taxable income we distribute to our stockholders. In order to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT, we are required, among other things, to distribute at least 90% of our ordinary taxable income to our stockholders each year.

Our Properties

Our 1,093 properties are located in 40 states and Washington D.C. and include a concentration in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions that we believe is unique and not readily available for purchase or lease from other owners or landlords. Our typical property consists of approximately one acre of land in a larger metropolitan area and is used as a convenience store, express tunnel car wash, automotive service center, automotive parts retailer, or certain other freestanding retailers, including drive-thru quick service restaurants. Many of our properties are located at highly trafficked urban intersections or conveniently close to highway entrances or exit ramps.

As of December 31, 2023, we leased 1,089 of our properties to tenants under triple-net leases, including 911 properties leased under 44 separate unitary or master triple-net leases, and 178 properties leased under single unit triple-net leases. These leases generally provide for an initial term of 15 or 20 years, with options for successive renewal terms of up to 20 years, and periodic rent escalations. As of December 31, 2023, our weighted average remaining lease term, excluding renewal options, was 8.9 years.

Substantially all of our properties are leased to convenience store operators, petroleum distributors, express tunnel car wash operators and other automotive-related and retail tenants. Our tenants either operate their business at our properties directly or, in the case of certain convenience stores and gasoline and repair stations, sublet our properties and supply fuel to third parties that operate the businesses. For additional information regarding risks related to our tenants’ dependence on the performance of the industry, see “Item 1A. Risk Factors – Significant number of our tenants depend on the same industry for their revenues” in this Form 10-K.

Our triple-net lease tenants are responsible for the payment of all taxes, maintenance, repairs, insurance and other operating expenses relating to our properties, and are also responsible for pre-existing environmental contamination occurring during the terms of their leases. Substantially all of our tenants are also responsible for pre-existing environmental contamination that is discovered during their lease term, except contamination that was known at lease commencement, as to which we have established reserves. For additional information regarding our environmental obligations, see Note 6 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.

As of December 31, 2023, we were also actively redeveloping two of our properties for alternative single tenant retail uses, and two of our properties were vacant.

Investment Strategy and Activity

As part of our strategy to grow and diversify our portfolio, we regularly review acquisition and financing opportunities to invest in additional convenience, automotive and other single tenant retail real estate. We primarily pursue sale leaseback transactions with existing and prospective tenants and will pursue other transactions, including forward commitments to acquire new-to-industry construction and the acquisition of assets with in-place leases, that result in us owning fee simple interests in our properties. Our investment activities may also include purchase money financing with respect to properties we sell, real property loans relating to our

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leasehold properties and construction loans. Our investment strategy seeks to generate current income and benefit from long-term appreciation in the underlying value of our real estate. To achieve that goal, we seek to invest in well-located, freestanding properties that support automobility and provide convenience and service to consumers in major markets across the country. A key element of our investment strategy is to invest in properties that will enhance our property type, tenant and geographic diversification.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we invested more than $325.0 million (net of previously funded amounts), including $211.7 million (net of previously funded amounts) for the acquisition of 54 operating properties, $44.8 million (plus a commitment to provide funding to complete the projects) for the acquisition of 14 under construction express tunnel car washes, and $70.7 million of incremental development funding advances for the construction of new-to-industry assets. In aggregate, we invested in more than 80 assets, including 52 express tunnel car washes, 15 auto service centers, 13 convenience stores, and three drive-thru quick service restaurants, while adding ten new tenants and two new states to our portfolio, and expanding our relationships with several existing tenants and our presence in certain high-growth metropolitan areas.

During the year ended December 31, 2022, we invested $157.5 million across 52 properties, including the acquisition of fee simple interests in 40 properties for an aggregate purchase price of $137.3 million. The properties we acquired included nine convenience stores, 16 express tunnel car washes, 14 automotive services centers and one drive-thru quick service restaurant. We also advanced construction loans in the amount of $20.2 million, including accrued interest, for the development of 12 new-to-industry convenience stores and express tunnel car washes. In total, convenience stores represented approximately 30% of our investment activity during the year, while other convenience and automotive retail properties made up the remaining 70% of our investments. We also added four new tenants to our portfolio, expanded our relationships with several existing tenants, and added or increased exposure to a number of attractive metropolitan areas, including Austin, Charleston (SC), Charlotte, Las Vegas, and San Antonio.

For additional information regarding our property acquisitions, see Note 13 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, we sold nine properties that generated gross proceeds of approximately $12.0 million, and during the year ended December 31, 2022, we sold 24 properties that generated gross proceeds of approximately $26.0 million, and reduced our exposure to certain properties, tenants, and/or geographies that no longer met our long-term investment criteria.

For additional information regarding our property dispositions see Note 12 in “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” in this Form 10-K.

Redevelopment Strategy and Activity

We believe that certain of our properties, primarily those currently being used as gas and repair businesses, are well-suited to be redeveloped as modern convenience stores or other single tenant convenience and automotive retail uses, such as automotive parts retailers, quick service restaurants, auto service centers, and bank branches. We believe that the redeveloped properties can be leased or sold at higher values than their prior use.

During the year ended December 31, 2023, rent commenced on three completed redevelopments and increased rent commenced on two revenue-enhancing capex projects for expanded convenience stores. During the year ended December 31, 2022, new rent commenced on two completed redevelopment projects. Since the inception of our redevelopment program in 2015, we have completed 31 redevelopment and revenue-enhancing capex projects.

For the year ended December 31, 2023, we incurred $0.2 million (net of write-offs) of construction-in-progress costs related to our redevelopment activities and transferred $0.4 million of construction-in-progress to buildings and improvements on our consolidated balance sheets. For the year ended December 31, 2022, we incurred $0.1 million (net of write-offs) of construction-in-progress costs related to our redevelopment activities.

As of December 31, 2023, we had two properties under active redevelopment and others in various stages of feasibility planning for potential recapture from our net lease portfolio.

Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures

We manage our business to enhance the value of our real estate portfolio and, as a REIT, place particular emphasis on minimizing risk, to the extent feasible, and generating cash sufficient to make required distributions to stockholders of at least 90% of our ordinary taxable income each year. In addition to measurements defined by GAAP, we also focus on Funds From Operations (“FFO”) and Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) to measure our performance.

FFO and AFFO are generally considered by analysts and investors to be appropriate supplemental non-GAAP measures of the performance of REITs. FFO and AFFO are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, FFO and AFFO are not based on any comprehensive set of accounting rules or principles. Neither FFO nor AFFO represent cash generated from operating activities calculated in accordance with GAAP and therefore these measures should not be considered an

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alternative for GAAP net earnings or as a measure of liquidity. These measures should only be used to evaluate our performance in conjunction with corresponding GAAP measures.

FFO is defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) as GAAP net earnings before (i) depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, (ii) gains or losses on dispositions of real estate assets, (iii) impairment charges, and (iv) the cumulative effect of accounting changes.

We define AFFO as FFO excluding (i) certain revenue recognition adjustments (defined below), (ii) certain environmental adjustments (defined below), (iii) stock-based compensation, (iv) amortization of debt issuance costs and (v) other non-cash and/or unusual items that are not reflective of our core operating performance.

Other REITs may use definitions of FFO and/or AFFO that are different than ours and, accordingly, may not be comparable.

We believe that FFO and AFFO are helpful to analysts and investors in measuring our performance because both FFO and AFFO exclude various items included in GAAP net earnings that do not relate to, or are not indicative of, the core operating performance of our portfolio. Specifically, FFO excludes items such as depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, gains or losses on dispositions of real estate assets, and impairment charges. With respect to AFFO, we further exclude the impact of (i) deferred rental revenue (straight-line rent), the net amortization of above-market and below-market leases, adjustments recorded for the recognition of rental income from direct financing leases, and the amortization of deferred lease incentives (collectively, “Revenue Recognition Adjustments”), (ii) environmental accretion expenses, environmental litigation accruals, insurance reimbursements, legal settlements and judgments, and changes in environmental remediation estimates (collectively, “Environmental Adjustments”), (iii) stock-based compensation expense, (iv) amortization of debt issuance costs and (v) other items, which may include allowances for credit losses on notes and mortgages receivable and direct financing leases, losses on extinguishment of debt, retirement and severance costs, and other items that do not impact our recurring cash flow and which are not indicative of our core operating performance.

We pay particular attention to AFFO which we believe provides the most useful depiction of the core operating performance of our portfolio. By providing AFFO, we believe we are presenting information that assists analysts and investors in their assessment of our core operating performance, as well as the sustainability of our core operating performance with the sustainability of the core operating performance of other real estate companies.

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A reconciliation of net earnings to FFO and AFFO is as follows (in thousands, except per share amounts):

Year ended December 31,

Revenue recognition adjustments

Deferred rental revenue (straight-line rent) (4,033 ) (3,458 ) (2,778 )

Amortization of above and below market leases, net (1,057 ) (1,184 ) (1,221 )

Amortization of investments in direct financing leases 6,004 5,392 4,844

Environmental Adjustments

Environmental litigation accruals — 279 1,909

Insurance reimbursements (138 ) (85 ) (92 )

Legal settlements and judgments — — (493 )

Other Adjustments

Loss on extinguishment of debt 43 — —

Retirement and severance costs 939 85 800

Basic per share amounts:

Diluted per share amounts:

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

(a)

Dividends paid and undistributed earnings allocated, if any, to unvested restricted stockholders are deducted from FFO and AFFO for the computation of the per share amounts. The following amounts were deducted:

Year ended December 31,

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Results of Operations

Year ended December 31, 2023, compared to year ended December 31, 2022

The following table presents select data and comparative results from our consolidated statements of operations for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,

Revenues:

Operating expenses:

Other items:

Revenues from Rental Properties

The following table presents the results for revenues from rental properties for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,

Revenue recognition adjustments (2,012 ) (1,948 ) (64 )

Rental income includes base rental income and additional rental income, if any, based on the aggregate volume of fuel sold at certain properties. The increase in rental income was primarily due to additional base rental income from properties acquired during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, as well as rent commencements from completed redevelopments and contractual rent increases for certain in-place leases, partially offset by dispositions of real estate during the same period.

In accordance with GAAP, we recognize revenues from rental properties in amounts which vary from the amount of rent contractually due during the periods presented. As a result, revenues from rental properties include revenue recognition adjustments comprised of (i) non-cash adjustments recorded for deferred rental revenue due to the recognition of rental income on a straight-line basis over the current lease term, (ii) the net amortization of above-market and below-market leases, (iii) recognition of rental income under direct financing leases using the effective interest rate method which produces a constant periodic rate of return on the net investments in the leased properties, and (iv) the amortization of deferred lease incentives.

Tenant reimbursements consist of real estate taxes and other municipal charges paid by us which are reimbursable by our tenants pursuant to the terms of triple-net lease agreements.

Interest on Notes and Mortgages Receivable

The increase in interest on notes and mortgages receivable was primarily due to an increase in development funding advances for the construction of new-to-industry properties, as well as development funding rates, during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, partially offset by collections of notes and mortgages receivable during the same period.

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Property Costs

The following table presents the results for property costs for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022 (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,

Leasing and redevelopment expenses 677 710 (33 )

Property costs are comprised of (i) property operating expenses, including rent expense, reimbursable and non-reimbursable real estate taxes and municipal charges, certain state and local taxes, and maintenance expenses, and (ii) leasing and redevelopment expenses, including professional fees, demolition costs, and redevelopment project cost write-offs, if any. The increase in property costs was primarily due to an increase in reimbursable real estate taxes, partially offset by lower rent expense and non-reimbursable real estate taxes.

Impairment Charges

Impairment charges are recorded when the carrying value of a property is reduced to fair value. Impairment charges for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 were attributable to (i) the addition of asset retirement costs to certain properties due to changes in estimates associated with our environmental liabilities, which increased the carrying values of these properties in excess of their fair values, (ii) reductions in estimated undiscounted cash flows expected to be received during the assumed holding period for certain of our properties, and (iii) reductions in estimated sales prices from third-party offers based on signed contracts, letters of intent or indicative bids for certain of our properties.

Environmental Expenses

The increase in environmental expenses for the year ended December 31, 2023 was primarily due to credits related to the removal of reserves for unknown environmental liabilities during the year ended December 31, 2022. Specifically, during the year ended December 31, 2022, we concluded that there was no material continued risk of having to satisfy contractual obligations relating to preexisting unknown environmental contamination at certain properties. Accordingly, we removed $23.5 million of unknown reserve liabilities which had previously been accrued for these properties which resulted in a net credit of $22.2 million being recorded to environmental expense for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Environmental expenses vary from period to period and, accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on the magnitude or the direction of change in reported environmental expenses for one period, as compared to prior periods.

General and Administrative Expenses

The increase in general and administrative expenses was primarily due to a $2.4 million increase in employee-related expenses, including $0.9 million of non-recurring retirement and severance costs and a $0.8 million increase in stock-based compensation, a $0.4 million increase in legal and other professional fees, and a $0.2 million increase an office and information technology expenses.

Depreciation and Amortization Expenses

The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily due to additional depreciation and amortization from properties acquired during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, partially offset by a decrease in depreciation charges related to asset retirement costs, the effect of certain assets becoming fully depreciated, lease terminations, and dispositions of real estate during the same period.

Gains on Disposition of Real Estate

The gains on dispositions of real estate were primarily the result of the sale of nine and 24 properties during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Interest Expense

The increase in interest expense was due to higher average borrowings and higher average interest rates for the year ended December 31, 2023, as compared to the year ended December 31, 2022.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

Our primary uses of liquidity include payments of operating expenses, interest on our outstanding debt, environmental remediation costs, distributions to shareholders, and future acquisitions and redevelopment projects. We have not historically incurred significant capital expenditures other than those related to acquisitions. For a discussion of our capital expenditures, see “Property Acquisitions and Capital Expenditures.”

We expect to meet our short-term liquidity requirements through cash flow from operations, funds available under our Revolving Credit Facility, undrawn funds available under our Term Loan, proceeds from the settlement of shares of common stock subject to forward sale agreements under our ATM program, and available cash and cash equivalents.

As of December 31, 2023, we had $290.0 million of availability under our Revolving Credit Facility, $75.0 million of undrawn funds available under our Term Loan, 1,049,050 million shares of common stock subject to forward sale agreements which are anticipated to generate approximately $32.2 million of gross proceeds upon settlement, and available cash and cash equivalents of $3.3 million.

We anticipate meeting our longer-term capital needs through cash flow from operations, funds available under our Revolving Credit Facility, available cash and cash equivalents, the future issuance of shares of common stock or debt securities, and proceeds from future real estate asset sales.

Our cash flow activities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,

Operating Activities

The change in net cash flow provided by operating activities for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 was primarily the result of changes in revenues and expenses as discussed in “Results of Operations” above and the other changes in assets and liabilities as presented on our consolidated statements of cash flows.

Investing Activities

The change in net cash flow used in investing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily due to an increase in property acquisitions of $110.8 million and an increase of $100.0 million in issuance of notes and mortgages receivable, partially offset by a $40.6 million increase in collection of notes and mortgages receivable, a $13.0 million decrease in proceeds from dispositions of real estate, and a $12.2 million decrease in deposits for property acquisitions.

Financing Activities

The change in net cash flow provided by financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2023, was primarily due to an increase in proceeds from the issuance of common stock of $226.4 million, partially offset by an increase in net debt repayments of $45.0 million and an increase in dividends paid of $8.7 million.

Revolving Credit Facility

In October 2021, we entered into a second amended and restated credit agreement (as amended, the "Second Restated Credit Agreement"). The Second Restated Credit Agreement provides for an unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) in an aggregate principal amount of $300.0 million and includes an accordion feature to increase the revolving commitments or add one or more tranches of term loans up to an additional aggregate amount not to exceed $300.0 million, subject to certain conditions, including one or more new or existing lenders agreeing to provide commitments for such increased amount and that no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing under the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility.

The Revolving Credit Facility matures October 27, 2025, subject to two six-month extensions (for a total of 12 months) exercisable at our option. Our exercise of an extension option is subject to the absence of any default and our compliance with certain conditions, including the payment of extension fees to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Facility.

Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate equal to (i) the sum of a SOFR rate plus a SOFR adjustment of 0.10% plus a margin of 1.30% to 1.90%, or (ii) the sum of a base rate plus a margin of 0.30% to 0.90%, in each case with the margin based on our consolidated total indebtedness to total asset value ratio at the end of each quarterly reporting period.

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The per annum rate of the unused line fee on the undrawn funds under the Revolving Credit Facility is 0.15% to 0.25% based on our daily unused portion of the available Revolving Credit Facility.

Term Loan

In October 2023, we entered into a term loan credit agreement (the "Term Loan Agreement") that provides for a senior unsecured term loan (the "Term Loan") in an aggregate principal amount of $150.0 million. The Term Loan matures October 17, 2025, subject to one twelve-month extension exercisable at our option. Our exercise of the extension option is subject to the absence of any default and our compliance with certain conditions, including the payment of extension fees to the lenders under the Term Loan.

The Term Loan is comprised of (i) an initial principal amount of $75.0 million that was funded in a single draw at closing and used to repay amounts outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) an additional principal amount of $75.0 million that can be funded in a single draw at our option any time on or prior to April 14, 2024.

Borrowings under the Term Loan bear interest at a rate equal to (i) the sum of a SOFR rate plus a SOFR adjustment of 0.10% plus a margin of 1.30% to 1.90% or (ii) the sum of a base rate plus a margin of 0.30% to 0.90%, in each case with the margin based on our consolidated total indebtedness to total asset value ratio at the end of each quarterly reporting period. In connection with the Term Loan, we entered into interest rate swaps for a notional amount of $150.0 million to fix SOFR at 4.73% until maturity. Including the impact of the swaps, the effective interest rate on the Term Loan is 6.13% based on our consolidated total indebtedness to total asset value ratio as of December 31, 2023.

Senior Unsecured Notes

In February 2022, we entered into a sixth amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with The Prudential Insurance Company of America and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Prudential”) (the "Sixth Amended and Restated Prudential Agreement") pursuant to which, in January 2023, we issued $80.0 million of 3.65% Series Q Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 20, 2033 (the “Series Q Notes”) to Prudential and used the proceeds to repay the $75.0 million of 5.35% Series B Guaranteed Senior Notes due June 2, 2023 (the “Series B Notes”) outstanding under our fifth amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with Prudential (the "Fifth Amended and Restated Prudential Agreement"). The other senior unsecured notes outstanding under the Fifth Amended and Restated Prudential Agreement, including (i) $50.0 million of 4.75% Series C Guaranteed Senior Notes due February 25, 2025 (the “Series C Notes”), (ii) $50.0 million of 5.47% Series D Guaranteed Senior Notes due June 21, 2028 (the “Series D Notes”), (iii) $50.0 million of 3.52% Series F Guaranteed Senior Notes due September 12, 2029 (the “Series F Notes”) and (iv) $100.0 million of 3.43% Series I Guaranteed Senior Notes due November 25, 2030 (the “Series I Notes”), remain outstanding under the Sixth Amended and Restated Prudential Agreement.

In February 2022, we entered into a second amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with American General Life Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “AIG”) (the “Second Amended and Restated AIG Agreement”) pursuant to which we issued $55.0 million of 3.45% Series L Guaranteed Senior Notes due February 22, 2032 (the “Series L Notes”) to AIG. The other senior unsecured notes outstanding under our first amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with AIG (the “First Amended and Restated AIG Agreement”), including (i) $50.0 million of 3.52% Series G Guaranteed Senior Notes due September 12, 2029 (the “Series G Notes”) and (ii) $50.0 million of 3.43% Series J Guaranteed Senior Notes due November 25, 2030 (the “Series J Notes”), remain outstanding under the Second Amended and Restated AIG Agreement.

In February 2022, we entered into a second amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “MassMutual”) (the “Second Amended and Restated MassMutual Agreement”) pursuant to which we issued $20.0 million of 3.45% Series M Guaranteed Senior Notes due February 22, 2032 (the “Series M Notes”) and, in January 2023, $20.0 million of 3.65% Series O Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 20, 2033 (the “Series O Notes”) to MassMutual. The other senior unsecured notes outstanding under our first amended and restated note purchase and guarantee agreement with MassMutual (the “First Amended and Restated MassMutual Agreement”), including (i) $25.0 million of 3.52% Series H Guaranteed Senior Notes due September 12, 2029 (the “Series H Notes”) and (ii) $25.0 million of 3.43% Series K Guaranteed Senior Notes due November 25, 2030 (the “Series K Notes”), remain outstanding under the Second Amended and Restated MassMutual Agreement.

In February 2022, we entered into a note purchase and guarantee agreement with New York Life Insurance Company and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “New York Life”) (the “New York Life Agreement”) pursuant to which we issued $25.0 million of 3.45% Series N Guaranteed Senior Notes due February 22, 2032 (the “Series N Notes”) and, in January 2023, $25.0 million of 3.65% Series P Guaranteed Senior Notes due January 20, 2033 (the “Series P Notes”) to New York Life.

In June 2018, we entered into a note purchase and guarantee agreement with MetLife and certain of its affiliates (collectively, "MetLife") (the “MetLife Agreement”) pursuant to which we issued $50.0 million of 5.47% Series E Guaranteed Senior Notes due June 21, 2028 (the “Series E Notes”) to MetLife.

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The funded and outstanding Series C Notes, Series D Notes, Series E Notes, Series F Note, Series G Notes, Series H Notes, Series I Notes, Series J Notes, Series K Notes, Series L Notes, Series M Notes, Series N Notes, Series O Notes, Series P Notes, and Series Q Notes are collectively referred to as the "Senior Unsecured Notes".

Debt Maturities

The amounts outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility, Term Loan, and Senior Unsecured Notes, exclusive of extension options, are as follows (in thousands):

Year ended December 31,

Unamortized debt issuance costs, net (a) (5,266 ) (3,545 )

(a)

Unamortized debt issuance costs related to the Revolving Credit Facility were $1,364 and $2,036 as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, and are included in prepaid expenses and other assets on our consolidated balance sheets.

Equity Offering

In February 2023, we completed a follow-on public offering of 3,450,000 shares of common stock in connection with forward sales agreements. During the year ended December 31, 2023, we settled all 3,450,000 shares and realized net proceeds of $112.1 million.

ATM Program

In February 2021, we established an at-the-market equity offering program (the “2021 ATM Program”), pursuant to which we were able to issue and sell shares of our common stock with an aggregate sales price of up to $250.0 million through a consortium of banks acting as agents or acting as forward sellers on behalf of any forward purchasers pursuant to a forward sale agreement. The 2021 ATM Program was terminated in February 2023.

In February 2023, we established an at-the-market equity offering program (the “ATM Program”), pursuant to which we are able to issue and sell shares of our common stock with an aggregate sales price of up to $350.0 million through a consortium of banks acting as our sales agents or acting as forward sellers on behalf of any forward purchasers pursuant to a forward sale agreement. Sales of the shares of common stock may be made, as needed, from time to time in at-the-market offerings as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or otherwise at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or as otherwise agreed to with the applicable agent.

The use of a forward sale agreement allows us to lock in a share price on the sale of shares at the time the forward sales agreement becomes effective, but defer receiving the proceeds from the sale of shares until a later date. To account for the forward sale agreements, we consider the accounting guidance governing financial instruments and derivatives. To date, we have concluded that our forward sale agreements are not liabilities as they do not embody obligations to repurchase our shares nor do they embody obligations to issue a variable number of shares for which the monetary value are predominantly fixed, varying with something other than the fair value of the shares, or varying inversely in relation to our shares.

We also evaluated whether the forward sale agreements meet the derivatives and hedging guidance scope exception to be accounted for as equity instruments. We concluded that the forward sale agreements are classifiable as equity contracts based on the following assessments: (i) none of the agreements’ exercise contingencies that are based on observable markets or indices besides those related to the market for our own stock price and operations; and (ii) none of the settlement provisions precluded the agreements from being indexed to our own stock.

We consider the potential dilution resulting from the forward sale agreements on the earnings per share calculations and use the treasury stock method to determine the dilution resulting from the forward sale agreements during the period of time prior to settlement.

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ATM Direct Issuances

During the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, no shares of common stock were issued under the ATM Program or the 2021 ATM Program. Future sales, if any, will depend on a variety of factors to be determined by us from time to time, including among others, market conditions, the trading price of our common stock, determinations by us of the appropriate sources of funding for us and potential uses of funding available to us.

ATM Forward Agreements