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National Retail Properties

nnn · NYSE Real Estate
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Ticker nnn
Exchange NYSE
Sector Real Estate
Industry REIT - Retail
Employees 51-200
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FY2017 Annual Report · National Retail Properties
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2017

I T   T A K E S   A   T E A M

28 ConsecutiveAnnual Dividend Increases      S T E A D Y   W I N S

      S T E A D Y   W I N S

2017

28 ConsecutiveAnnual Dividend IncreasesTRIPLE NET LEASE 

2

A net lease requires the tenant to directly pay many of the costs associated with a property. Our properties are typically leased on a TRIPLE NET LEASE basis, meaning the tenant pays for the real estate TAXES, MAINTENANCE, INSURANCE and utilities at the property level. We believe strongly that triple net leases provide increased stability to our rental revenue over the long term; we are insulated against increases in these property operating costs and our rental income goes directly to the bottom line. The real estate industry moniker for triple net leases is “NNN,” which is the basis for our New York Stock Exchange ticker symbol.NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESTotal Return Comparison

(NNN = $43.13 at December 31, 2017)

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES

2.0%

7.5%

11.5%

12.3%

13.6%

11.9%

12.9%

1 YEAR

3 YEARS

5 YEARS

10 YEARS 15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS

Indices

* NAREIT Equity REIT Index (FNERTR)

* Morgan Stanley REIT Index (RMS G)

  S&P 500 Index (SPX)

  Nasdaq (CCMP)

8.7%

5.1%

21.8%

29.8%

6.7%

5.4%

11.4%

14.8%

9.8%

9.4%

15.8%

19.5%

7.8%

7.4%

8.5%

11.1%

10.8%

9.9%

11.3%

12.8%

9.1%

8.9%

7.2%

8.7%

10.9%

n/a

9.7%

10.6%

* NNN is a member of this index (removed from S&P 600 and added to S&P 400 in December 2011; removed from Russell 2000 and added to Russell 1000 in June 2012)  Source: Bloomberg

99.1% OCCUPANCY  

AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2017

Value of $1,000 Investment

(As of December 31, 2017)

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES

$  1,020

$  1,243

$  1,722

$  3,179

$  6,727

$  9,391

$ 20,904

1 YEAR

3 YEARS

5 YEARS

10 YEARS 15 YEARS 20 YEARS 25 YEARS

Indices

* NAREIT Equity REIT Index (FNERTR)

$  1,087

$  1,214 

$  1,599 

$  2,111 

$  4,869 

$  5,719 

$  13,253 

* Morgan Stanley REIT Index (RMS G)

$  1,051 

$  1,170 

$  1,563 

$  2,050 

$  4,670 

$  5,492 

 n/a 

  S&P 500 Index (SPX)

$  1,218 

$  1,382 

$  2,078 

$  2,253 

$  4,115 

$  3,995 

$  10,028 

  Nasdaq (CCMP)

$  1,298 

$  1,514 

$  2,436 

$  2,928 

$  6,090 

$  5,265 

$  12,357

* NNN is a member of this index (removed from S&P 600 and added to S&P 400 in December 2011; removed from Russell 2000 and added to Russell 1000 in June 2012)

TOP 25 TENANTS AVERAGE  

OVER 1,100 STORES EACH

3

JOSH LEWIS  
Senior Vice President of Acquisitions  
Joined NNN in 2008 

4

“We do recurring business with numerous proprietary relationship tenants. Our RELATIONSHIP TENANTS tend to be very thoughtful about entering into long‑term leases and therefore self‑select STRONGER PERFORMING STORES for sale‑leaseback to NNN. We have earned their repeat business by giving our relationship tenants confidence in NNN’s ability to execute.”NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESMy Fellow Shareholders

It is a pleasure to report that National Retail Properties enjoyed another impressive year of per share 
growth in 2017, increasing our Core FFO per share by over 7%.  

Our broadly diversified portfolio of primarily small box retail properties remained healthy and highly 
occupied; our focus on building and maintaining deep tenant relationships produced another year of 
high quality investments; and our low leveraged, flexible balance sheet remained one of the strongest 
among all REITs. 

We increased our dividend for the 28th consecutive year, a feat matched by only two other REITs and less 
than 90 public companies in the U.S. The dividend remained safe as well as growing, with our dividend 
payout ratio at approximately 73%.

While we have generated impressive one-year performance, we remain focused on multi-year results. 
As of the year-end, National Retail Properties delivered total shareholder returns that exceeded the REIT 
averages and many major equity indices over the past 3-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year periods, respectively.

$2.4 BILLION INVESTED  

IN RELATIONSHIP TENANTS SINCE 2010

28 Consecutive Annual Dividend Increases 
Third longest run of all public REITS and longer than 99% of all public companies

‘90

‘91

‘92

‘93

‘94

‘95

‘96

‘97

‘98

‘99

‘00

‘01

‘02

‘03

‘04

‘05

‘06

‘07

‘08

‘09

‘10

‘11

‘12

‘13

‘14

‘15

‘16

‘17

5

 $1.90  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.80  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.70  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.60  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.50  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.40  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.30  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.20  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.10  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ $1.00  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________6

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESOur Mission and Our Strategic Drivers

Your investment in National Retail Properties is an investment in long-term growth and dividend income. 
Our business model produces consistent growth in both Core FFO per share and in our common 
stock dividend.

Our mission to create long-term shareholder value remained unchanged in 2017:

•  Consistently grow Core FFO per share over a multi-year timeframe

•  Increase the dividend while prudently managing the payout ratio

•  Conservatively manage the balance sheet

12.9% PER YEAR AVERAGE ANNUAL  

TOTAL SHAREHOLDER RETURN  

OVER THE PAST 25 YEARS

The strategic drivers of our long-term success also remained unchanged:

•  A consistent focus on single-tenant, net-leased retail properties. The real estate attributes of 

single-tenant retail properties are far superior to the attributes of other property types, and the 
universe of opportunities to acquire these properties remains vast.

•  A broadly diversified portfolio of single-tenant retail properties that generates a stable, growing cash flow 
from long-term leases. Our tenants are primarily in lines of trade that provide customer services, customer 
experiences, or e-commerce resistant consumer necessities. These are the retailers that are growing their 
businesses, adding new stores and taking market share.

•  A relationship-oriented acquisition model that results in high quality investments with large regional 
and national retailers. Our proprietary tenant relationships allow us to obtain higher investment yields, 
superior lease documents and better quality real estate.

•  Active asset management that focuses on maximizing the value of each individual property. Our deep 
real estate expertise enables us to get the most out of our portfolio and to recycle capital through 
thoughtful, disciplined dispositions.

•  A fortress-like balance sheet that provides us with the capability to withstand economic turbulence and 

positions us to perpetuate our long history of consecutive annual dividend increases.

•  Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, a team of great people in a supportive culture, which is the true 
backbone of our success. Three-quarters of our associates have been with the company for at least five 
years, and over half have been with us for 10 or more years. The executive leadership team averages 
over 18 years’ tenure at the company. That level of commitment to culture and institutional memory 
is invaluable.

As we continue to execute on these strategic drivers, we will consistently deliver Core FFO per share growth 
and continue our outperformance of REIT averages on a multi-year basis.

5-YEAR ANNUAL DIVIDEND  

GROWTH RATE OF 3.5%

7

INGRID IRVIN  
Director of Lease Compliance 
Joined NNN in 2003 

8

“When one of our properties becomes vacant, our PRIORITY IS TO RE‑LEASE it rather than sell it. Our focus on keeping our investment per property lower, and therefore our property rent lower, is an important contributor to our HIGH OCCUPANCY rate and our HIGH LEASE RENEWAL rate.”NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES3.0

2.5

2.0

1.5

1.0

100%

95%

90%

85%

CORE FFO Per Share Growth 
Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 7.7%

$2.35

$2.22

$2.52

$2.08

$1.93

$1.74

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017

88% OF EXPIRING LEASES  

RENEWED OVER PAST 10 YEARS

NNN's Strategy Results in Higher Occupancy, Less Volatility
  NNN
  REIT Industry (Excluding Hotels & Healthcare)

98.3%

98.2%

98.3%

97.0%

97.4%

96.7%

96.4%

96.9%

97.4%

97.9%

98.2%

98.6%

99.1%

99.0%

99.1%

93.0%

93.5%

93.5%

92.1%

92.8%

92.0%

92.7%

92.5%

92.0%

93.3%

93.5%*

90.5%

90.1%

90.8%

90.7%

2003 

2004 

2005 

2006 

2007 

2008 

2009 

2010 
Source: SNL Financial

2011 

2012 

2013 

2014 

2015 

2016 

2017

* REIT Industry Average as of Q3 2017

9

10

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESTop Lines of Trade

(As a percentage of annualized base rent 
as of December 31, 2017)

Convenience Stores |  18.1%

Restaurants - Full Service |  12.1%

Restaurants - Limited Service |  7.6%

Automotive Service |  6.9%

Family Entertainment Centers |  6.4%

Health & Fitness |  5.6%

Theaters |  4.8% 

Automotive Parts |  3.6%

RV Dealers & Parts |  3.4%

 Banks |  2.5%

(Remaining 27 categories  
make up 29.0%)

The Highlights of 2017

•  Increased Core FFO per share by 7.2%.  Our goal is to grow Core FFO per share 
consistently on a multi-year basis. National Retail Properties has achieved a 
five-year average annual Core FFO per share growth rate of 7.7%.

•  Increased our annual dividend by 4.5% to $1.86 per share, which represents 

our 28th consecutive annual dividend increase.

•  Acquired 276 single tenant retail properties for $754.9 million, at an initial 
cash yield of 6.9%. Properties leased to our relationship tenants accounted 
for approximately 75% of our dollars invested in 2017.

•  Sold 48 properties for $96.8 million at a cap rate of 6.0%, primarily through 
our in-house disposition platform. By maintaining this expertise in the 
company, we minimize transaction costs such as brokerage commissions.

•  Renewed 46 existing leases and re-leased 27 vacant properties, including all 
12 of our former Gander Mountain properties, perpetuating our multi-year 
track record of occupancy at 98% or higher.

•  Issued $400M of 10-year unsecured notes at an interest rate of 3.50% and 

repaid $250M of debt that came due at an interest rate of 6.875%.  

•  Raised $244 million from the issuance of well-priced common equity through 

our highly efficient ATM program.

•  Generated $102 million of retained earnings (AFFO less common dividend) 
that we invested in new single-tenant retail properties. These retained 
earnings are becoming an increasingly important source of available, 
low-cost capital for reinvestment.

Lease Expirations (As a percentage of annualized base rent as of December 31, 2017)
Weighted average remaining lease term is 11.5 years

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2027

2028

2029-2038

11

 60%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 50%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 40%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 30%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 20%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 10%  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 0% MATT WILLIAMS  
Senior Vice President of Underwriting 
Joined NNN in 1997 

12

“We VISIT EVERY PROPERTY that we are considering buying. What you learn from online research or from a property package can be limited. We want to understand the property, know what the traffic patterns are, observe the trade area, know where the competition is and see what that store’s customers will see. By going to each property we get a truer sense of the viability of that store as a SUCCESSFUL RETAIL LOCATION.”NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESNotable Take-Aways From 2017

As I mentioned earlier, I’m proud of the experience and track record of our associates and executive team.  
Still, we are constantly evaluating our business model and learning from our tenants, our competitors 
and our own experiences. Looking outward – while remaining disciplined in the execution of our 
business plan – is an important part of the culture at National Retail Properties.

Although I cannot say that we learned anything startlingly original in 2017, a number of concepts we already 
knew to be true were reinforced:

•  Per share results are what really matter. You will never meet a management team more concerned 
with per share results and less concerned with portfolio growth simply for the sake of appearances. 
REIT headlines are often devoted to the volume of acquisitions in any given quarter or year. To us, what 
matters is consistent multi-year growth in per share results while maintaining a conservative balance 
sheet, NOT headline growth of our asset base. This approach to creating shareholder value allows us 
to be highly selective in our acquisitions, and positions us to perpetuate our long-term track record 
of consistent per share growth with less execution risk and more focus on quality real estate.  

•  Not all retail is toxic. Our tenants typically operate large regional and national businesses that focus 
on customer services, customer experiences and e-commerce resistant consumer necessities. We have 
very little exposure to apparel or other retail concepts that are struggling with e-commerce and getting 
negative headlines. The primary lines of trade in our portfolio are expanding and adding stores, and our 
major tenants are in growth mode.

Nationwide Reach

(As a percentage of annualized base rent as of December 31, 2017)

$754.9 MILLION INVESTED  

IN 276 NEW PROPERTIES IN 2017

  West |  4.1%

  Rocky Mountain |  5.9%

  Midwest |  24.7%

  South |  22.2%

  Southeast |  27.3%

  Northeast |  15.8%

13

14

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES•  Not all portfolios are created equal. Our focus is on good real estate locations at reasonable rents. 

By concentrating our underwriting on these factors, we create an enduring margin of safety that better 
withstands any turmoil in the general economy or in any tenant’s individual business. During the depth 
of the recession in 2008 and 2009, our occupancy rate never dipped below 96.4%, and for the last five 
years our occupancy rate has averaged 98.8%. 

•  Tenant relationships matter. We work tirelessly to identify growing retailers and develop 

programmatic, off-market business relationships. To our relationship tenants, the NNN value proposition 
is more than just “lowest cap rate”. We are a reliable, efficient, solution-oriented capital partner to fund 
the growth of their respective businesses. Since 2010, we have invested a total of $2.4 billion in properties 
leased to our relationship tenants at an initial yield of 7.3%.

•  Dry powder matters. When stock prices dropped meaningfully for our sector in the second quarter, 

our conservative capital structure enabled us to continue our acquisitions unaffected. One never knows 
when the equity markets may get choppy, thus we maintain prudent debt levels and significant available 
capacity on our line of credit. We ended 2017 with our balance sheet in a strong position, ready to carry 
us through any future turbulence in the capital markets.

•  Our associates make all the difference. The deep experience and expertise of our associates and our 
management team, and our culture of putting the shareholders’ interests first, positions us to seize the 
opportunities and address the challenges that face us daily. Even after 25 years of working with this team, 
I continue to be impressed and humbled by the talent, hard work and dedication of the associates who 
give their all for the company’s shareholders every day.

5-YEAR AVERAGE CORE FFO/sh  

COMPOUNDED ANNUAL GROWTH 

RATE OF 7.7% SINCE 2012

Well-Laddered Debt Maturities 

(As of December 31, 2017; percentages shown are weighted average interest rates) 
NNN’s low leverage balance sheet strategy is enhanced by its well-laddered debt maturity.

3.3%

3.9%

3.6%

4.0%

3.5%

3.8%

5.5%

5.2%

2018

5.2%

2019

5.2%

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025 

2026

2027

15

$ 450M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 400M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 350M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 300M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 250M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 200M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 150M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 100M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 50M  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________$ 0M MARGO MOEDER  
Vice President of Human Resources  
Joined NNN in 2005 

16

“MORE THAN HALF of our associates have been with NNN OVER 10 YEARS. We provide regularly scheduled educational programs covering business and personal growth topics, as well as many health and wellness programs, going on throughout the year. This focus on individual development and wellness has led to higher levels of EMPLOYEE SATISFACTION AND RETENTION.”NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES2018: Maintain Our Steady Course

As we look ahead to 2018, you should expect us to continue executing on the 
strategic drivers of our business model, generating another year of consistent 
per share growth. Coupled with our safe and growing dividend, our business 
model positions us to continue producing a total shareholder return that will 
exceed the REIT averages over the long-term.  

On behalf of the board of directors and all the associates at National Retail 
Properties, thank you for your investment, your trust and your continued support.

Best regards,

Julian E. (Jay) Whitehurst 
President and Chief Executive Officer

ONLY 4.7% OF LEASES  

EXPIRE THROUGH 2019

Conservative Balance Sheet Management

(As of December 31, 2017 – based on Total Gross Book Assets)

   Common Equity 
56.0% | $4,096.6 Million

   Unsecured Debt
35.1%  |  $2,566.9 Million

   Preferred Equity 
8.7% | $632.5 Million

Not Shown: $13.3 Million Secured Debt (0.2%)

Portfolio Growth

(Number of properties owned as of December 31 for each respective year)

2,764

2,535

2,257

2,054

1,860

1,622

1,422

1,037

1,034

1,212

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

17

 3,000  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2,750  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2,500  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2,250  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2,000  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1,750  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1,500  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1,250  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 1,000  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 75018

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESHistorical Financial Highlights

(Dollars in thousands, except per share data)

GROSS REVENUES(1)

$

585,255

$

533,817

$

483,025

$

435,278

$

397,008

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

EARNINGS FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS

NET EARNINGS

NET EARNINGS ATTRIBUTABLE TO NNN

TOTAL ASSETS

TOTAL DEBT

TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY OF NNN

CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED TO:

Common stockholders

Series D preferred stockholders

Series E preferred stockholders

Series F preferred stockholders

WEIGHTED AVERAGE COMMON SHARES:

Basic

Diluted

PER SHARE INFORMATION:

Earnings from continuing operations:

Basic

Diluted

Net earnings:

Basic

Diluted

Cash dividends declared to:

Common stockholders

228,716

265,371

264,973

6,560,534

2,580,207

3,840,593

277,120

3,598

16,387

17,940

212,324

239,506

239,500

6,334,151

2,311,689

3,916,799

187,511

197,961

197,836

179,777

191,170

190,601

154,006

160,085

160,145

5,460,044

4,915,551

4,445,308

1,975,944

3,342,134

1,729,891

1,560,844

3,082,515

2,777,045

257,007

228,699

19,047

16,387

3,189

19,047

16,387

—

204,157

19,047

16,387

—

189,107

19,047

8,876

—

149,111,188

144,176,224

133,998,674

124,257,558

118,204,148

149,432,641

144,660,633

134,489,416

124,710,226

119,864,824

$

1.45

$

1.39

$

1.21

$

1.24

$

1.45

1.45

1.45

1.86

1.38

1.39

1.38

1.78

1.20

1.21

1.20

1.71

1.24

1.24

1.24

1.65

1.06

1.05

1.11

1.10

1.60

Series D preferred depositary stockholders

Series E preferred depositary stockholders

Series F preferred depositary stockholders

0.312847

1.425000

1.300000

1.656250

1.425000

0.231111

1.656250

1.425000

—

1.656250

1.425000

—

1.656250

0.771875

—

OTHER DATA:

Cash flows provided by (used in):

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

FUNDS FROM OPERATIONS – AVAILABLE TO 
COMMON STOCKHOLDERS(2)

$

421,557

$

415,337

$

341,095

$

296,733

$

274,421

(625,557)

(779,943)

(644,544)

(541,558)

(568,040)

(89,176)

359,179

644,886

330,544

307,105

289,193

253,944

260,902

293,028

228,622

(1)  Gross revenues include revenues from NNN’s continuing and discontinued operations. Prior to January 1, 2014, in accordance with FASB guidance on Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of 
Long-Lived Assets, NNN classified the revenues related to (i) all Properties which generated revenue that were sold and a leasehold interest which expired and (ii) all Properties which generated 
revenue and were held for sale at December 31, 2013, as discontinued operations. Effective January 1, 2014, NNN early adopted ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) 
and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360): Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposal of Components of an Entity.” Therefore, only disposals representing a strategic shift 
in operations are to be presented as discontinued operations. This requires the Company to continue to classify any Property disposal or Property classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2013, 
as discontinued operations prospectively. Therefore, the revenues and expenses related to these properties are presented as discontinued operations for the year ended December 31, 2014. 
The Company has not classified any additional properties as discontinued operations subsequent to December 31, 2013.

(2)  The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) developed Funds from Operations (“FFO”) as a relative non-U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial 

measure of performance of a REIT in order to recognize that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT and is used 
by NNN as follows: net earnings (computed in accordance with GAAP) plus depreciation and amortization of real estate assets, excluding gains (or losses) on the disposition of certain assets, any 
impairment charges on a depreciable real estate asset and NNN’s share of these items from NNN’s unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

19

20

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIESUNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-K

(Mark One)

 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 

OR

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934.

For the transition period from                      to                      .

Commission file number 001-11290

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

56-1431377
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

450 South Orange Avenue, Suite 900
Orlando, Florida 32801
(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (407) 265-7348

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class:
Common Stock, $0.01 par value
5.700% Series E Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
5.200% Series F Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value

Name of exchange on which registered:
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange
New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
None
(Title of class)

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  

   No  

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act    Yes  

     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the 
preceding 12 months (or such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 
90 days.     Yes  

     No  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be 
submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the 
registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  

    No  

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 
registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-
K.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer or a smaller reporting company. See definition 
of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  

Accelerated filer  

Non-accelerated filer  

Smaller reporting company  

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or 
revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).    Yes  

    No  

The aggregate market value of voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2017 was $5,781,786,000.

The number of shares of common stock outstanding as of January 31, 2018 was 153,578,881.

 
 
 
  
  
  
.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE:
Registrant incorporates by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K portions of National Retail Properties, Inc.’s 
definitive Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant 
to Regulation 14A. The definitive Proxy Statement will be filed with the Commission not later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year covered by this 
Annual Report on Form 10-K.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PAGE      
REFERENCE

Part I

Business

Item 1.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Item 2.

Properties

Legal Proceedings

Item 3.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

Part II

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

Equity Securities

Selected Financial Data

Item 6.
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Item 8.

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

Item 9.
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures
Item 9B. Other Information

Part III

Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance
Item 11. Executive Compensation
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder 

Matters

Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Part IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

Signatures

1

6

14

14

14

14

15

18

20
36

37

67

67

68

69

69

69

69

69

70

75

 
 
 
PART I

Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to the terms “registrant” or “NNN” 
or the “Company” refer to National Retail Properties, Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. NNN may elect to treat 
certain subsidiaries as taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries. These subsidiaries and their majority owned and 
controlled subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the “TRS.” At the close of business on December 31, 2015, NNN 
elected to revoke its election to classify the TRS as taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Statements contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, including the documents that are incorporated by reference, 
that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 
and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”). Also, when NNN uses any of the words 
“anticipate,” “assume,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” or similar expressions, NNN is making forward-
looking statements. Although management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are 
based upon present expectations and reasonable assumptions, NNN’s actual results could differ materially from those set 
forth in the forward-looking statements. Certain factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from 
those NNN anticipates or projects are described in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Given these uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such statements, which speak only as of the 
date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K or any document incorporated herein by reference. NNN undertakes no 
obligation to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or 
circumstances after the date of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Item 1.  Business

The Company

NNN, a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust (“REIT”) formed in 1984. NNN's assets are 
primarily real estate assets. NNN's consolidated financial statements are included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 
10-K.

Real Estate Assets

NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased primarily to retail tenants under long-term net 
leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties" or "Property Portfolio," or individually a "Property"). NNN 
owned 2,764 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 29,093,000 square feet, located in 48 
states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 11.5 years as of December 31, 2017. Approximately 99 percent of 
the Properties were leased as of December 31, 2017.

Competition

NNN generally competes with numerous other REITs, commercial developers, real estate limited partnerships and other 
investors including but not limited to insurance companies, pension funds and financial institutions that own, manage, 
finance or develop retail and net leased properties.

Employees

As of January 31, 2018, NNN employed 66 associates.

Other Information

NNN’s executive offices are located at 450 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 900, Orlando, Florida 32801, and its telephone 
number is (407) 265-7348. NNN has a website at www.nnnreit.com where NNN’s filings with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the "Commission") can be downloaded free of charge.

The common shares of National Retail Properties, Inc. are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") under 
the ticker symbol "NNN." National Retail Properties, Inc. has two series of preferred shares outstanding which are traded 
on the NYSE in the form of depositary shares: the depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th of a share of 5.700% 
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series E Preferred Stock”), are traded on the 
NYSE under the ticker symbol "NNNPRE" and the depositary shares, each representing a 1/100th of a share of 5.200% 

 1

Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Series F Preferred Stock”), are traded on the 
NYSE under the symbol "NNNPRF."

Business Strategies and Policies

The following is a discussion of NNN’s operating strategy and certain of its investment, financing and other policies. 
These strategies and policies have been set by management and the Board of Directors and, in general, may be amended or 
revised from time to time by management and the Board of Directors without a vote of NNN’s stockholders.

Operating Strategies

NNN’s strategy is to invest primarily in retail real estate that is typically well located within each local market for its 
tenants’ retail lines of trade. Management believes that these types of properties, generally leased pursuant to triple-net 
leases, provide attractive opportunities for stable current returns and the potential for increased returns and capital 
appreciation. Triple-net leases typically require the tenant to pay property operating expenses such as insurance, utilities, 
repairs, maintenance, capital expenditures and real estate taxes and assessments. Initial lease terms are generally 10 to 20 
years.

NNN holds each real estate asset until it determines that the sale of such an asset is advantageous in view of NNN’s 
investment objectives. In deciding whether to sell a real estate asset, factors NNN may consider may include but are not 
limited to potential capital appreciation, net cash flow, tenant credit quality, tenant's line of trade, portfolio composition, 
market lease rates, local market conditions, potential use of sale proceeds and federal income tax considerations.

NNN’s management team focuses on certain key indicators to evaluate the financial condition and operating performance 
of NNN. These key indicators include the composition of the Property Portfolio (such as tenant, geographic and line of 
trade diversification), the occupancy rate of the Property Portfolio, certain financial performance ratios and profitability 
measures,  industry trends, and industry performance compared to NNN.

The operating strategies employed by NNN have allowed NNN to increase the annual dividend (paid quarterly) per 
common share for 28 consecutive years. NNN is one of only three publicly traded REITs to increase its annual dividend 
per common share for 28 or more consecutive years.

Investment in Real Estate or Interests in Real Estate

NNN’s management believes that single tenant, freestanding net lease retail properties will continue to provide attractive 
investment opportunities and that NNN is well suited to take advantage of these opportunities because of its experience in 
accessing capital markets, and its ability to source, underwrite and acquire such properties.

In evaluating a particular acquisition, management may consider a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 
• 
• 

the location, visibility and accessibility of the property,

the geographic area and demographic characteristics of the community, 

the local real estate market conditions, including potential for growth, market rents, and existing or 
potential competing properties or retailers,

the size, age and title status of the property,

the quality of construction and design and the current physical condition of the property,

the potential for, and current extent of, any environmental problems,

the purchase price,

the non-financial terms of the proposed acquisition,

the availability of funds or other consideration for the proposed acquisition and the cost thereof,

the compatibility of the property with NNN’s existing Property Portfolio,

the property-level operating history,
the financial and other characteristics of the existing tenant,

the tenant’s business plan, operating history and management team,

the tenant’s industry,
the terms of any lease,
the rent to be paid by the tenant, and

 2

• 

any existing indebtedness encumbering the property which may be assumed in connection with acquiring 
or refinancing these investments.

NNN intends to engage in future investment activities in a manner that is consistent with the maintenance of its status as a 
REIT for federal income tax purposes. Additionally, NNN does not intend to engage in activities that will make NNN an 
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

Investments in Real Estate Mortgages and Securities of or Interests in Persons Engaged in Real Estate Activities

While NNN’s primary business objectives emphasize retail properties, NNN may invest in (i) a wide variety of property 
and tenant types, (ii) leases, mortgages and other types of real estate interests, (iii) loans secured by personal property, 
(iv) loans secured by partnership or membership interests in partnerships or limited liability companies, respectively, or 
(v) securities of other REITs, or other issuers, including for the purpose of exercising control over such entities.

Financing Strategy

NNN’s financing objective is to manage its capital structure effectively in order to provide sufficient capital to execute its 
operating strategies while servicing its debt requirements and providing value to its stockholders. NNN generally utilizes 
debt and equity security offerings, bank borrowings, proceeds from the sale of properties, and to a lesser extent, internally 
generated funds to meet its capital needs.

NNN typically funds its short-term liquidity requirements including investments in additional properties with advances 
from its $900,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility ("Credit Facility"). As of December 31, 2017, $120,500,000 was 
outstanding and $779,500,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding undrawn letters of 
credit totaling $230,000.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN’s ratio of total debt to total gross assets (before accumulated depreciation and 
amortization) was approximately 35 percent and the ratio of secured indebtedness to total gross assets was less than one 
percent. The ratio of total debt to total market capitalization was approximately 27 percent. Certain financial agreements 
contain covenants that limit NNN’s ability to incur additional debt under certain circumstances.

NNN anticipates it will be able to obtain additional financing for short-term and long-term liquidity requirements as further 
described in "Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations – 
Liquidity." However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital will be available, or that the terms will 
be acceptable or advantageous to NNN.

The organizational documents of NNN do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that NNN may 
incur. Additionally, NNN may change its financing strategy at any time. 

Strategies and Policy Changes

Any of NNN’s strategies or policies described above may be changed at any time by NNN without notice to or a vote of 
NNN’s stockholders.

Property Portfolio

As of December 31, 2017, NNN owned 2,764 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 
29,093,000 square feet, located in 48 states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 11.5 years. Approximately 99 
percent of total Properties were leased as of December 31, 2017. 

The following table summarizes the Property Portfolio at December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

Land

Building

Size(1)

Total Dollars Invested(2)

High

Low

Average

High

Low

Average

3,733

142

2

1

102

$ 8,882

$

5

$

846

11

45,286

19

1,846

 Approximate square feet.

(1) 
(2)  Costs vary depending upon size, improvements, local market conditions and other factors.

 3

 
 
As of December 31, 2017, NNN has committed to fund construction commitments on 27 Properties. The improvements on 
such Properties are estimated to be completed within 12 months. These construction commitments, at December 31, 2017, 
are outlined in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Total commitment(1)

Amount funded

Remaining commitment

$

129,925

67,719

62,206

(1) 

Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs, and capitalized interest.

Leases

The following is a summary of the general structure of the leases in the Property Portfolio, although the specific terms of 
each lease can vary significantly. Generally, the Property leases provide for initial terms of 10 to 20 years. As of 
December 31, 2017, the weighted average remaining lease term of the Property Portfolio was approximately 11.5 years. 
The Properties are generally leased under net leases, pursuant to which the tenant typically bears responsibility for 
substantially all property costs and expenses associated with ongoing maintenance, repair, replacement and operation of 
the property, including utilities, property taxes and insurance. NNN's leases provide for annual base rental payments 
(generally payable in monthly installments) ranging from $6,000 to $3,714,000 (average of $215,000), and generally 
provide for increases in rent as a result of (i) increases in the Consumer Price Index ("CPI"), (ii) fixed increases, or, to a 
lesser extent, (iii) increases in the tenant’s sales volume.

Generally, NNN's leases provide the tenant with one or more multi-year renewal options subject to generally the same 
terms and conditions provided under the initial lease term. Some of the leases also provide that in the event NNN wishes to 
sell the Property subject to that lease, NNN first must offer the lessee the right to purchase the Property on the same terms 
and conditions as any offer which NNN intends to accept for the sale of the Property.

The following table summarizes the lease expirations, assuming none of the tenants exercise renewal options, of the 
Property Portfolio for each of the next 10 years and then thereafter in the aggregate as of December 31, 2017:

% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)

2.0%

2.7%

3.5%

4.1%

6.4%

2.6%

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

# of
Properties

61

75

127

121

125

99

Gross
Leasable
Area(2)

787,000

1,081,000

1,559,000

1,320,000

1,697,000

1,143,000

% of
Annual
Base
Rent(1)

2.2%

4.7%

5.6%

8.7%

2024

2025

2026

2027

# of
Properties

50

128

184

197

Gross
Leasable
Area(2)

833,000

1,123,000

1,854,000

2,766,000

Thereafter

57.5%

1,566

14,540,000

 Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2017.

(1) 
(2)  Approximate square feet.

 4

 
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio based on the top 10 lines of trade:

Top 10 Lines of Trade

Convenience stores

Restaurants - full service

Restaurants - limited service

Automotive service

Family entertainment centers

Health and fitness

Theaters

Automotive parts

Recreational vehicle dealers, parts and accessories

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Banks

Other

% of Annual Base Rent(1)

2017

18.1%

12.1%

7.6%

6.9%

6.4%

5.6%

4.8%

3.6%

3.4%

2.5%

2016

16.9%

11.8%

7.5%

6.6%

5.8%

5.7%

4.9%

3.9%

3.4%

3.1%

2015

16.7%

11.0%

7.2%

7.0%

5.6%

3.8%

5.2%

4.2%

3.6%

3.4%

29.0%

100.0%

30.4%

100.0%

32.3%

100.0%

(1)  Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31 of the respective year.

The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio by state as of December 31, 2017:

State

Texas

Florida

Illinois

Ohio

North Carolina

Georgia

Tennessee

Virginia

Indiana

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Alabama

Other

# of
Properties

457

211

132

168

154

127

131

119

123

128

% of
Annual
Base Rent(1)

18.2%

8.7%

5.4%

5.3%

5.1%

4.3%

4.0%

3.9%

3.9%

3.1%

1,014

2,764

38.1%

100.0%

(1)  Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 

2017.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN did not have any tenant that accounted for ten percent or more of its rental income.

 5

 
 
 
  
 
Governmental Regulations Affecting Properties

Property Environmental Considerations.  Subject to a determination of the level of risk and potential cost of remediation, 
NNN may acquire a property where some level of environmental contamination may exist. Investments in real property 
create a potential for substantial environmental liability for the owner of such property from the presence or discharge of 
hazardous materials on the property or the improper disposal of hazardous materials emanating from the property, 
regardless of fault. In order to mitigate exposure to environmental liability, NNN maintains an environmental insurance 
policy which provides some coverage for substantially all of the properties. Such policy expires in August 2018. As a part 
of its acquisition due diligence process, NNN obtains an environmental site assessment for each property. In such cases 
where NNN intends to acquire a property where some level of contamination may exist, NNN generally requires the seller 
or tenant to (i) remediate the problem, (ii) indemnify NNN for environmental liabilities, and/or (iii) agree to other 
arrangements deemed appropriate by NNN, including, under certain circumstances, the purchase of environmental 
insurance to address environmental conditions at the property.  NNN may incur costs if the tenant does not comply with 
these requests.

As of February 6, 2018, NNN has 77 Properties currently under some level of environmental remediation and/or 
monitoring. In general, the seller, a previous owner, the tenant or an adjacent land owner is responsible for the cost of the 
environmental remediation for each of these Properties.

Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.  The Properties, as commercial facilities, are required to comply with Title III of 
the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and similar state and local laws and regulations (collectively, the "ADA"). The 
tenants will typically have primary responsibility for complying with the ADA, but NNN may incur costs if the tenant does 
not comply. As of February 6, 2018, NNN has not been notified by any governmental authority of, nor is NNN’s 
management aware of, any non-compliance with the ADA that NNN’s management believes would have a material adverse 
effect on its business, financial position or results of operations.

Other Regulations.  State and local fire, life-safety and similar entities regulate the use of the Properties. NNN’s leases 
generally require each tenant to undertake primary responsibility for complying with regulations, but failure to comply 
could result in fines by governmental authorities, awards of damages to private litigants, or restrictions on the ability to 
conduct business on such properties.

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Carefully consider the following risks and all of the other information set forth in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, 
including the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto. If any of the events or developments described below 
were actually to occur, NNN’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be adversely affected.

Financial and economic conditions may have an adverse impact on NNN, its tenants, and commercial real estate in 
general.

Financial and economic conditions can be challenging and volatile and any worsening of such conditions, including any 
disruption in the capital markets, could adversely affect NNN’s business and results of operations. Such conditions could 
also affect the financial condition of NNN’s tenants, developers, borrowers, lenders or the institutions that hold NNN’s 
cash balances and short-term investments, which may expose NNN to increased risks of default by these parties.

There can be no assurance that actions of the United States Government, the Federal Reserve or other government and 
regulatory bodies intended to stabilize the economy or financial markets will achieve their intended effect. Additionally, 
some of these actions may adversely affect financial institutions, capital providers, retailers, consumers, NNN’s financial 
condition, NNN's results of operations or the trading price of NNN’s shares.

 6

Potential consequences of challenging and volatile financial and economic conditions include:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

the financial condition of NNN’s tenants may be adversely affected, which may result in tenant defaults 
under the leases due to bankruptcy, lack of liquidity, operational failures or for other reasons,

the ability to borrow on terms and conditions that NNN finds acceptable may be limited or unavailable, 
which could reduce NNN’s ability to pursue acquisition and development opportunities and refinance 
existing debt, reduce NNN’s returns from acquisition and development activities, reduce NNN’s ability to 
make cash distributions to its stockholders and increase NNN’s future interest expense,

the recognition of impairment charges on or reduced values of the Properties, may adversely affect 
NNN's results of operations,

reduced values of the Properties may limit NNN's ability to dispose of assets at attractive prices and 
reduce the availability of buyer financing, and

the value and liquidity of NNN’s short-term investments and cash deposits could be reduced as a result of 
(i) a deterioration of the financial condition of the institutions that hold NNN’s cash deposits or the 
institutions or assets in which NNN has made short-term investments, (ii) the dislocation of the markets 
for NNN’s short-term investments, (iii) increased volatility in market rates for such investments or (iv) 
other factors.

NNN may be unable to obtain debt or equity capital on favorable terms, if at all.

NNN may be unable to obtain capital on favorable terms, if at all, to further its business objectives or meet its existing 
obligations. Nearly all of NNN’s debt, including the Credit Facility, is subject to balloon principal payments due at 
maturity. These maturities range between 2021 and 2027. NNN's ability to make these scheduled principal payments may 
be adversely impacted by NNN’s inability to extend or refinance the Credit Facility, the inability to dispose of assets at an 
attractive price or the inability to obtain additional debt or equity capital. Capital that may be available may be materially 
more expensive or available under terms that are materially more restrictive which would have an adverse impact on 
NNN’s business, financial condition and results of operations.

Loss of rent from tenants would reduce NNN’s cash flow.

NNN's tenants encounter significant macroeconomic, governmental and competitive forces. Adverse changes in consumer 
spending or consumer preferences for particular goods, services or store based retailing could severely impact their ability 
to pay rent. Shifts from in-store to online shopping could increase due to changing consumer shopping patterns as well as 
the increase in consumer adoption and use of mobile electronic devices. This expansion of e-commerce could have an 
adverse impact on NNN's tenants' ongoing viability. The default, financial distress, bankruptcy or liquidation of one or 
more of NNN’s tenants could cause substantial vacancies in the Property Portfolio. Vacancies reduce NNN’s revenues, 
increase property expenses and could decrease the value of each such vacant Property. Upon the expiration of a lease, the 
tenant may choose not to renew the lease and NNN may not be able to re-lease the vacant Property at a comparable lease 
rate. Furthermore, NNN may incur additional expenditures in connection with such renewal or re-leasing.

A significant portion of the source of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is concentrated in specific industry 
classifications, tenants and geographic locations.

As of December 31, 2017, approximately,

• 

• 

• 

51.1% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from tenants in five retail lines of trade, 
including convenience stores (18.1%) and full-service and limited-service restaurants (19.7%),

20.6% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from five tenants, Sunoco (5.1%), Camping 
World (4.2%), Mister Car Wash (4.1%), LA Fitness (3.8%), AMC Theatres (3.4%), and

42.7% of the Property Portfolio annual base rent is generated from properties located in five states, 
including Texas (18.2%) and Florida (8.7%).

Any financial hardship and/or economic changes in these lines of trade, tenants or states could have an adverse effect on 
NNN’s results of operations.

 7

Owning real estate and indirect interests in real estate carries inherent risks.

NNN’s economic performance and the value of its real estate assets are subject to the risk that if the Properties do not 
generate revenues sufficient to meet its operating expenses, including debt service, NNN’s cash flow and ability to pay 
distributions to its stockholders will be adversely affected. As a real estate company, NNN is susceptible to the following 
real estate industry risks, which are beyond its control:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

changes in national, regional and local economic conditions and outlook,

decreases in consumer spending and retail sales or adverse changes in consumer preferences for 
particular goods, services or store based retailing,

economic downturns in the areas where the Properties are located,

adverse changes in local real estate market conditions, such as an oversupply of space, reduction in 
demand for space, loss of a large employer, intense competition for tenants, or a demographic change,

changes in tenant or consumer preferences that reduce the attractiveness of the Properties to tenants,

changes in zoning, regulatory restrictions, or tax laws, and

changes in interest rates or availability of financing.

All of these factors could result in decreases in market rental rates and increases in vacancy rates, which could adversely 
affect NNN’s results of operations.

NNN’s real estate investments are illiquid.

Because real estate investments are relatively illiquid, NNN’s ability to adjust the portfolio promptly in response to 
economic or other conditions is limited. Certain significant expenditures generally do not change in response to economic 
or other conditions, including: (i) debt service (if any), (ii) real estate taxes, and (iii) operating and maintenance costs. This 
combination of variable revenue and relatively fixed expenditures may result, under certain market conditions, in reduced 
earnings and could have an adverse effect on NNN’s financial condition.

Costs of complying with changes in governmental laws and regulations may adversely affect NNN’s results of operations.

NNN cannot predict what laws or regulations will be enacted in the future, how future laws or regulations will be 
administered or interpreted, or how future laws or regulations will affect NNN or its Properties, including, but not limited 
to environmental laws and regulations. Compliance with new laws or regulations, or stricter interpretation of existing laws, 
may require NNN, its retail tenants, or consumers to incur significant expenditures, impose significant liability, restrict or 
prohibit business activities and could cause a material adverse effect on NNN’s results of operation.

NNN may be subject to known or unknown environmental liabilities and hazardous materials on Properties owned by NNN.

There may be known or unknown environmental liabilities associated with Properties owned or acquired in the future by 
NNN. Certain particular uses of some Properties may also have a heightened risk of environmental liability because of 
the hazardous materials used in performing services on those Properties, such as convenience stores with underground 
petroleum storage tanks or auto parts and auto service businesses using petroleum products, paint and machine 
solvents. Some of the Properties may contain asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, or may contain or may develop 
mold or other bio-contaminants. Asbestos-containing materials must be handled, managed and removed in accordance with 
applicable governmental laws, rules and regulations. Mold and other bio-contaminants can produce airborne toxins, may 
cause a variety of health issues in individuals and must be remediated in accordance with applicable governmental laws, 
rules and regulations.

As part of its due diligence process, NNN generally obtains an environmental site assessment for each Property it 
acquires. In cases where NNN intends to acquire real estate where evidence of some level of known contamination may 
exist, NNN generally requires the seller or tenant to (i) remediate the contamination in accordance with applicable laws, 
rules and regulations, (ii) indemnify NNN for environmental liabilities, and/or (iii) agree to other arrangements deemed 
appropriate by NNN, including, under certain circumstances, the purchase of environmental insurance. Although sellers or 
tenants may be contractually responsible for remediating hazardous materials on a property and may be responsible 
for indemnifying NNN for any liability resulting from the use of a Property and for any failure to comply with any 
applicable environmental laws, rules or regulations, NNN has no assurance that sellers or tenants shall be able to meet their 
remediation and indemnity obligations to NNN. A tenant or seller may not have the financial ability to meet its remediation 
and indemnity obligations to NNN when required. Furthermore, NNN may have strict liability to governmental agencies or 

 8

third parties as a result of the existence of hazardous materials on Properties, whether or not NNN knew about or caused 
such hazardous materials to exist.

As of February 6, 2018, NNN has 77 Properties currently under some level of environmental remediation and/or 
monitoring. In general, the seller, a previous owner, the tenant or an adjacent land owner is responsible for the cost of the 
environmental remediation for each of these Properties.

If NNN is responsible for hazardous materials located on its Properties, NNN’s liability may include investigation and 
remediation costs, property damage to third parties, personal injury to third parties, and governmental fines and 
penalties. Furthermore, the presence of hazardous materials on a Property may adversely impact the Property value or 
NNN’s ability to sell the Property. Significant environmental liability could impact NNN’s results of operations, ability to 
make distributions to stockholders, and its ability to meet its debt obligations.

In order to mitigate exposure to environmental liability, NNN maintains an environmental insurance policy which provides 
some coverage for substantially all of its Properties. That policy expires in August 2018. However, the policy is subject to 
exclusions and limitations and does not cover all of the Properties owned by NNN. For those Properties covered under the 
policy, insurance may not fully compensate NNN for any environmental liability. NNN has no assurance that the insurer on 
its environmental insurance policy will be able to meet its obligations under the policy. NNN may not desire to renew the 
environmental insurance policy in place upon expiration or a replacement policy may not be available at a reasonable cost, 
if at all.

NNN may not be able to successfully execute its acquisition or development strategies.

NNN may not be able to implement its investment strategies successfully. Additionally, NNN cannot assure that its 
Property Portfolio will expand at all, or if it will expand at any specified rate or to any specified size. In addition, 
investment in additional real estate assets is subject to a number of risks. Because NNN expects to invest in markets other 
than the ones in which its current Properties are located or properties which may be leased to tenants other than those to 
which NNN has historically leased properties, NNN will also be subject to the risks associated with investment in new 
markets, new lines of trade or with new tenants that may be relatively unfamiliar to NNN’s management team.

NNN’s development activities are subject to, without limitation, risks relating to the availability and timely receipt of 
zoning and other regulatory approvals, the cost and timely completion of construction (including risks from factors beyond 
NNN’s control, such as weather or labor conditions or material shortages), the risk of finding tenants for the properties and 
the ability to obtain both construction and permanent financing on favorable terms. These risks could result in substantial 
unanticipated delays or expenses and, under certain circumstances, could prevent completion of development activities 
once undertaken or provide a tenant the opportunity to reduce rent or terminate a lease. Any of these situations may delay 
or eliminate proceeds or cash flows NNN expects from these projects, which could have an adverse effect on NNN’s 
financial condition.

NNN may not be able to dispose of properties consistent with its operating strategy.

NNN may be unable to sell Properties targeted for disposition due to adverse market conditions or possible prohibitive 
income tax liability. This may adversely affect, among other things, NNN’s ability to sell under favorable terms, execute its 
operating strategy, achieve target earnings or returns, retire or repay debt or pay dividends.

NNN may suffer a loss in the event of a default of or bankruptcy of a tenant or a borrower.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN had no outstanding mortgages and notes receivable. If a borrower defaults on a mortgage 
or other loan made by NNN, and does not have sufficient assets to satisfy the loan, NNN may suffer a loss of principal and 
interest. In the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, NNN may not be able to recover against all or any of the assets of the 
borrower, or the collateral may not be sufficient to satisfy the balance due on the loan. In addition, certain of NNN’s loans 
may be subordinate to other debt of a borrower. These investments are typically loans secured by a borrower’s pledge of its 
ownership interests in the entity that owns the real estate or other assets and are typically subordinated to senior loans 
encumbering the underlying real estate or assets. Subordinated positions are generally subject to a higher risk of 
nonpayment of principal and interest than the more senior loans. If a borrower defaults on the debt senior to NNN’s loan, 
or in the event of the bankruptcy of a borrower, NNN’s loan will be satisfied only after the borrower’s senior creditors’ 
claims are satisfied. Where debt senior to NNN’s loans exists, the presence of intercreditor arrangements may limit NNN’s 
ability to amend loan documents, assign the loans, accept prepayments, exercise remedies and control decisions made in 
bankruptcy proceedings relating to borrowers. Bankruptcy proceedings and litigation can significantly increase the time 

 9

needed for NNN to acquire underlying collateral, if any, in the event of a default, during which time the collateral may 
decline in value. In addition, there are significant costs and delays associated with the foreclosure process.

Certain provisions of NNN’s leases or loan agreements may be unenforceable.

NNN’s rights and obligations with respect to its leases, mortgage loans or other loans are governed by written agreements. 
A court could determine that one or more provisions of such an agreement are unenforceable, such as a particular remedy, a 
master lease covenant, a loan prepayment provision or a provision governing NNN’s security interest in the underlying 
collateral of a borrower or lessee. NNN could be adversely impacted if this were to happen with respect to an asset or 
group of assets.

Property ownership through joint ventures and partnerships could limit NNN’s control of those investments.

Joint ventures or partnerships involve risks not otherwise present for direct investments by NNN. It is possible that NNN’s 
co-venturers or partners may have different interests or goals than NNN at any time and they may take actions contrary to 
NNN’s requests, policies or objectives, including NNN’s policy with respect to maintaining its qualification as a REIT. 
Other risks of joint venture or partnership investments include impasses on decisions because in some instances no single 
co-venturer or partner has full control over the joint venture or partnership, respectively, or the co-venturer or partner may 
become insolvent, bankrupt or otherwise unable to contribute to the joint venture or partnership, respectively. Further, 
disputes may develop with a co-venturer or partner over decisions affecting the property, joint venture or partnership that 
may result in litigation, arbitration or some other form of dispute resolution.

Competition from numerous other REITs, commercial developers, real estate limited partnerships and other investors may 
impede NNN’s ability to grow.

NNN may not complete suitable property acquisitions or developments on advantageous terms, if at all, due to competition 
for such properties with others engaged in real estate investment activities or lack of properties for sale on terms deemed 
acceptable to NNN. NNN’s inability to successfully acquire or develop new properties may affect NNN’s ability to achieve 
anticipated return on investment or realize its investment strategy, which could have an adverse effect on its results of 
operations.

NNN's loss of key management personnel could adversely affect performance and the value of its securities.

NNN is dependent on the efforts of its key management.  Competition for senior management personnel can be intense and 
NNN may not be able to retain its key management.  Although NNN believes qualified replacements could be found for 
any departures of key management, the loss of their services could adversely affect NNN's performance and the value of its 
securities.

Uninsured losses may adversely affect NNN’s operating results and asset values.

The Properties are generally covered by comprehensive liability, fire, and extended insurance coverage. NNN believes that 
the insurance carried on its Properties is adequate and in accordance with industry standards. There are, however, types of 
losses (such as from hurricanes, floods, earthquakes or other types of natural disasters or wars or other acts of violence) 
which may be uninsurable, self-insured by tenants, or the cost of insuring against these losses may not be economically 
justifiable in the opinion of tenants or NNN. If an uninsured loss occurs or a loss exceeds policy limits, NNN could lose 
both its invested capital and anticipated revenues from the property, thereby reducing NNN’s cash flow and asset value.

Acts of violence, terrorist attacks or war may affect the markets in which NNN operates and NNN’s results of operations.

Terrorist attacks or other acts of violence may negatively affect NNN’s operations. There can be no assurance that there 
will not be terrorist attacks against businesses within the United States. These attacks may directly or indirectly impact 
NNN’s physical facilities or the businesses or the financial condition of its tenants, developers, borrowers, lenders or 
financial institutions with which NNN has a relationship. The United States is engaged in armed conflict, which could have 
an impact on these parties. The consequences of armed conflict are unpredictable, and NNN may not be able to foresee 
events that could have an adverse effect on its business or be insured for such.

More generally, any of these events or threats 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 economies. They also could result in, 

 10

or cause a deepening of, economic recession in the United States or abroad. Any of these occurrences could have an 
adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition or results of operations.

Vacant properties or bankrupt tenants or borrowers could adversely affect NNN’s business or financial condition.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN owned 24 vacant, un-leased Properties, which accounted for approximately one percent of 
total Properties held in the Property Portfolio. NNN is actively marketing these Properties for sale or lease but may not be 
able to sell or lease these Properties on favorable terms or at all. The lost revenues and increased property expenses 
resulting from the rejection by any bankrupt tenant of any of their respective leases with NNN could have a material 
adverse effect on the liquidity and results of operations of NNN if NNN is unable to re-lease the Properties at comparable 
rental rates and in a timely manner. As of January 31, 2018, less than one percent of total Properties held in the Property 
Portfolio was leased to two tenants that each filed a petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. 
As a result, these tenants have the right to reject or affirm their leases with NNN.

The amount of debt NNN has and the restrictions imposed by that debt could adversely affect NNN’s business and financial 
condition.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN had outstanding debt including mortgages payable of $13,300,000, total unsecured notes 
payable of $2,446,407,000 and $120,500,000 outstanding on the Credit Facility. NNN’s organizational documents do not 
limit the level or amount of debt that it may incur. If NNN incurs additional indebtedness and permits a higher degree of 
leverage, debt service requirements would increase and could adversely affect NNN’s financial condition and results of 
operations, as well as NNN’s ability to pay principal and interest on the outstanding indebtedness or cash dividends to its 
stockholders. In addition, increased leverage could increase the risk that NNN may default on its debt obligations.

The amount of debt outstanding at any time could have important consequences to NNN’s stockholders. For example, it 
could:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

require NNN to dedicate a substantial portion of its cash flow from operations to payments on its debt, 
thereby reducing funds available for operations, real estate investments and other business opportunities 
that may arise in the future,

increase NNN’s vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions,

limit NNN’s ability to obtain any additional financing it may need in the future for working capital, debt 
refinancing, capital expenditures, real estate investments, development or other general corporate 
purposes,

make it difficult to satisfy NNN’s debt service requirements,

limit NNN’s ability to pay dividends in cash on its outstanding common and preferred stock,

limit NNN’s flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in its business and the factors that affect 
the profitability of its business, and

limit NNN’s flexibility in conducting its business, which may place NNN at a disadvantage compared to 
competitors with less debt or debt with less restrictive terms.

NNN’s ability to make scheduled payments of principal or interest on its debt, or to retire or refinance such debt will 
depend primarily on its future performance, which to a certain extent is subject to the creditworthiness of its tenants, 
competition, and economic, financial, and other factors beyond its control. There can be no assurance that NNN’s business 
will continue to generate sufficient cash flow from operations in the future to service its debt or meet its other cash needs. 
If NNN is unable to generate sufficient cash flow from its business, it may be required to refinance all or a portion of its 
existing debt, sell assets or obtain additional financing to meet its debt obligations and other cash needs.

NNN cannot assure stockholders that any such refinancing, sale of assets or additional financing would be possible or, if 
possible, on terms and conditions, including but not limited to the interest rate, which NNN would find acceptable or would 
not result in a material decline in earnings.

 11

NNN is obligated to comply with financial and other covenants in its debt instruments that could restrict its operating 
activities, and the failure to comply with such covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment of such debt.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN had approximately $2,580,207,000 of outstanding indebtedness, of which approximately 
$13,300,000 was secured indebtedness. NNN’s unsecured debt instruments contain various restrictive covenants which 
include, among others, provisions restricting NNN’s ability to:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

incur or guarantee additional debt,

make certain distributions, investments and other restricted payments,

enter into transactions with certain affiliates,

create certain liens,

consolidate, merge or sell NNN’s assets, and

pre-pay debt.

NNN’s secured debt instruments generally contain customary covenants, including, among others, provisions:

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

requiring the maintenance of the property securing the debt,

restricting its ability to sell, assign or further encumber the properties securing the debt,

restricting its ability to incur additional debt on the property securing the debt,
restricting modifications to property improvements,

restricting its ability to amend or modify existing leases on the property securing the debt, and

establishing certain prepayment restrictions.

In addition, NNN’s debt instruments may contain cross-default provisions, in which case a default of NNN under one debt 
instrument will be a default of NNN under multiple or all debt instruments of NNN.

NNN’s ability to meet some of its debt covenants, including covenants related to the condition of the property or payment 
of real estate taxes, may be dependent on the performance by NNN’s tenants under their leases.

In addition, certain covenants in NNN’s debt instruments, including its Credit Facility, require NNN, among other things, 
to:

• 

• 

• 

limit certain leverage ratios,

maintain certain minimum interest and debt service coverage ratios, and

limit investments in certain types of assets.

NNN’s failure to comply with certain of its debt covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment under such 
debt and limit the dividends paid to NNN’s common and preferred stockholders which would likely have a material 
adverse impact on NNN’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these defaults could impair its access to 
the debt and equity markets.

The market value of NNN’s equity and debt securities is subject to various factors that may cause significant fluctuations or 
volatility.

As with other publicly traded securities, the market price of NNN’s equity and debt securities depends on various factors, 
which may change from time-to-time and/or may be unrelated to NNN’s financial condition, operating performance or 
prospects that may cause significant fluctuations or volatility in such prices. These factors, among others, include:

• 

• 

• 

• 
• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

general economic and financial market conditions,

level and trend of interest rates,

changes in government taxation or regulatory authorities,

NNN’s ability to access the capital markets to raise additional capital,
the issuance of additional equity or debt securities,

changes in NNN’s funds from operations or earnings estimates,

changes in NNN’s debt ratings or analyst ratings,

NNN’s financial condition and performance,

market perception of NNN compared to other REITs, and

 12

• 

market perception of REITs compared to other investment sectors.

NNN’s failure to qualify as a REIT for federal income tax purposes could result in significant tax liability.

NNN intends to operate in a manner that will allow NNN to continue to qualify as a REIT. NNN believes it has been 
organized as, and its past and present operations qualify NNN as a REIT. However, the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) 
could successfully assert that NNN is not qualified as such. In addition, NNN may not remain qualified as a REIT in the 
future. Qualification as a REIT involves the application of highly technical and complex provisions of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) for which there are only limited judicial or administrative interpretations and 
involves the determination of various factual matters and circumstances not entirely within NNN’s control. Furthermore, 
new tax legislation, administrative guidance or court decisions, in each instance potentially with retroactive effect, could 
make it more difficult or impossible for NNN to qualify as a REIT or avoid significant tax liability.

If NNN fails to qualify as a REIT, it would not be allowed a deduction for dividends paid to stockholders in computing 
taxable income and would become subject to federal income tax at regular corporate rates. In this event, NNN could be 
subject to potentially significant tax liabilities and penalties. Unless entitled to relief under certain statutory provisions, 
NNN would also be disqualified from treatment as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which the 
qualification was lost.

Even if NNN remains qualified as a REIT, NNN faces other tax liabilities that reduce operating results and cash flow.

Even if NNN remains qualified for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain federal, state and local taxes on its income 
and assets, including taxes on any undistributed income, tax on income from some activities conducted as a result of a 
foreclosure, and state or local income, property and transfer taxes. Any increase of these taxes would decrease earnings and 
cash available for distribution to stockholders. In addition, in order to meet certain REIT qualification requirements, NNN 
has owned some of its assets in the TRS.

Adverse legislative or regulatory tax changes could reduce NNN’s earnings and cash flow and the market value of NNN’s 
securities.

At any time, the federal and state income tax laws or the administrative interpretations of those laws may change. Any such 
changes may have current and retroactive effects, and could adversely affect NNN or its stockholders. Legislation could 
cause shares in non-REIT corporations to be a more attractive investment to individual investors than shares in REITs, and 
could have an adverse effect on the value of NNN’s securities.

Compliance with REIT requirements, including distribution requirements, may limit NNN’s flexibility and may negatively 
affect NNN’s operating decisions.

To maintain its status as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, NNN must meet certain requirements on an on-going 
basis, including requirements regarding its sources of income, the nature and diversification of its assets, the amounts NNN 
distributes to its stockholders and the ownership of its shares. NNN may also be required to make distributions to its 
stockholders when it does not have funds readily available for distribution or at times when NNN’s funds are otherwise 
needed to fund expenditures or debt service requirements. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income taxes on 
amounts distributed to stockholders, so long as it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain 
other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, NNN 
believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding NNN’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain 
state taxes on its income and real estate.

Changes in accounting pronouncements could adversely impact NNN’s or NNN’s tenants’ reported financial performance.

Accounting policies and methods are fundamental to how NNN records and reports its financial condition and results of 
operations. From time to time the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) and the Commission, who create and 
interpret appropriate accounting standards, may change the financial accounting and reporting standards or their 
interpretation and application of these standards that govern the preparation of NNN’s financial statements. These changes 
could have a material impact on NNN’s reported financial condition and results of operations. In some cases, NNN could 
be required to apply a new or revised standard retroactively, resulting in restating prior period financial statements. 
Similarly, these changes could have a material impact on NNN’s tenants’ reported financial condition or results of 
operations and affect their preferences regarding leasing real estate.

 13

NNN’s failure to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on its 
business, operating results and the market value of NNN's securities.

Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires annual management assessments of the effectiveness of the 
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. If NNN fails to maintain the adequacy of its internal control over 
financial reporting, as such standards may be modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, NNN may not be able 
to ensure that it can conclude on an ongoing basis that it has effective internal control over financial reporting in 
accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. Moreover, effective internal control over financial 
reporting, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for NNN to produce reliable financial reports and 
to maintain its qualification as a REIT and are important in helping to prevent financial fraud. If NNN cannot provide 
reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, its business and operating results could be harmed, REIT qualification could be 
jeopardized, investors could lose confidence in the Company’s reported financial information, the company's access to 
capital could be impaired, and the trading price of NNN’s shares could drop significantly.

NNN’s ability to pay dividends in the future is subject to many factors.

NNN’s ability to pay dividends may be impaired if any of the risks described in this section were to occur. In addition, 
payment of NNN’s dividends depends upon NNN’s earnings, financial condition, maintenance of NNN’s REIT status and 
other factors as NNN’s Board of Directors may deem relevant from time to time.

Cybersecurity risks and cyber incidents could adversely affect NNN's business, disrupt operations and expose NNN to 
liabilities to tenants, employees, capital providers, and other third parties.

Cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited 
to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, 
corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. The result of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, 
disrupted operations, misstated financial data, liability for stolen assets or information, increased cybersecurity protection 
costs, litigation and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence. These cyber incidents could 
negatively impact NNN, NNN's tenants and/or the capital markets.

Future investment in international markets could subject NNN to additional risks.

If NNN expands its operating strategy to include investment in international markets, NNN could face additional risks, 
including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, operational risks due to local economic and political conditions and 
laws and policies of the U.S. affecting foreign investment. 

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

Item 2.  Properties

Please refer to Item 1. “Business.”

Item 3.  Legal Proceedings

In the ordinary course of its business, NNN is a party to various legal actions that management believes are routine in 
nature and incidental to the operation of the business of NNN. Management does not believe that any of these proceedings 
are material.

Item 4.  Mine Safety Disclosures

None.

 14

PART II

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

Securities

The common stock of NNN currently is traded on the NYSE under the symbol “NNN.” Set forth below is a line graph 
comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on NNN’s common stock, based on the market price of the common 
stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the FTSE National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts 
Equity Index (“NAREIT”) and the S&P 500 Index (“S&P”) for the five-year period commencing December 31, 2012 and 
ending December 31, 2017. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2012.

Comparison to Five-Year Cumulative Total Return

 15

Set forth below is a line graph comparing the cumulative total stockholder return on NNN’s common stock, based on the 
market price of the common stock and assuming reinvestment of dividends, with the FTSE National Association of Real 
Estate Investment Trusts Equity Index (“NAREIT”) and the S&P 500 Index (“S&P”) for the ten-year period commencing 
December 31, 2007 and ending December 31, 2017. The graph assumes an investment of $100 on December 31, 2007.

Comparison to Ten-Year Cumulative Total Return

 16

For each calendar quarter and year indicated, the following table reflects respective high, low and closing sales prices for 
the common stock as quoted by the NYSE and the dividends paid per share in each such period.

2017
High

Low

Close

Dividends paid per share

2016
High

Low

Close

Dividends paid per share

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Year

$

46.34

$

45.63

$

43.41

$

43.90

$

41.91

43.62

0.455

36.45

39.10

0.455

37.45

41.66

0.475

38.97

43.13

0.475

$

46.86

$

51.72

$

53.60

$

51.26

$

38.29

46.20

0.435

43.52

51.72

0.435

47.76

50.85

0.455

39.86

44.20

0.455

46.34

36.45

43.13

1.860

53.60

38.29

44.20

1.780

The following table presents the characterizations for tax purposes of such common stock dividends for the years ended 
December 31: 

Ordinary dividends

Capital gain

Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain

Nontaxable distributions

2017

2016

$

1.559781

83.8592% $

1.513705

85.0396%

0.035041

0.012194

0.252984

1.8839%

0.6556%

—

—

—

—

13.6013%

0.266295

14.9604%

$

1.860000

100.0000% $

1.780000

100.0000%

NNN intends to pay regular quarterly dividends to its stockholders, although all future distributions will be declared and 
paid at the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend upon cash generated by operating activities, NNN’s 
financial condition, capital requirements, annual distribution requirements under the REIT provisions of the Code and such 
other factors as the Board of Directors deems relevant.

In January 2018, NNN declared dividends payable to its stockholders of $72,733,000, or $0.475 per share, of common 
stock.

On January 31, 2018, there were 1,767 registered holders of record of NNN's common stock.

 17

 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 6.  Selected Financial Data

Historical Financial Highlights
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Gross revenues(1)
Earnings from continuing operations

Net earnings

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Total assets

Total debt

Total stockholders’ equity of NNN

Cash dividends declared to:

Common stockholders

Series D preferred stockholders

Series E preferred stockholders

Series F preferred stockholders

Weighted average common shares:

Basic

Diluted

Per share information:

Earnings from continuing operations:

Basic

Diluted

Net earnings:

Basic

Diluted

Cash dividends declared to:

Common stockholders

Series D preferred depositary stockholders

Series E preferred depositary stockholders

Series F preferred depositary stockholders

Other data:

Cash flows provided by (used in):

Operating activities

Investing activities

Financing activities

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

$

585,255

$

533,817

$

483,025

$

435,278

$

228,716

265,371

264,973

6,560,534

2,580,207

3,840,593

212,324

239,506

239,500

6,334,151

2,311,689

3,916,799

277,120

257,007

3,598

16,387

17,940

19,047

16,387

3,189

187,511

197,961

197,836

5,460,044

1,975,944

3,342,134

228,699

19,047

16,387

—

179,777

191,170

190,601

4,915,551

1,729,891

3,082,515

204,157

19,047

16,387

—

397,008

154,006

160,085

160,145

4,445,308

1,560,844

2,777,045

189,107

19,047

8,876

—

149,111,188

144,176,224

133,998,674

124,257,558

118,204,148

149,432,641

144,660,633

134,489,416

124,710,226

119,864,824

$

1.45

$

1.45

1.39

$

1.38

1.21

$

1.20

1.24

$

1.24

1.45

1.45

1.86

0.312847

1.425000

1.300000

1.39

1.38

1.78

1.656250

1.425000

0.231111

1.21

1.20

1.71

1.656250

1.425000

—

1.24

1.24

1.65

1.656250

1.425000

—

1.06

1.05

1.11

1.10

1.60

1.656250

0.771875

—

$

421,557

$

415,337

$

341,095

$

296,733

$

274,421

(625,557)

(89,176)

(779,943)

644,886

(644,544)

307,105

(541,558)

253,944

(568,040)

293,028

Funds from operations – available to common 

stockholders(2)

359,179

330,544

289,193

260,902

228,622

(1)  Gross revenues include revenues from NNN’s continuing and discontinued operations. Prior to January 1, 2014, in accordance with 
FASB guidance on Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets, NNN classified the revenues related to (i) all 
Properties which generated revenue that were sold and a leasehold interest which expired and (ii) all Properties which generated 
revenue and were held for sale at December 31, 2013, as discontinued operations. Effective January 1, 2014, NNN early adopted 
ASU 2014-08, “Presentation of Financial Statements (Topic 205) and Property, Plant, and Equipment (Topic 360):  Reporting 
Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposal of Components of an Entity.” Therefore, only disposals representing a 
strategic shift in operations are to be presented as discontinued operations. This requires the Company to continue to classify any 
Property disposal or Property classified as held for sale as of December 31, 2013, as discontinued operations prospectively.  

 18

 
Therefore, the revenues and expenses related to these properties are presented as discontinued operations for the year ended 
December 31, 2014.  The Company has not classified any additional properties as discontinued operations subsequent to December 
31, 2013. 

(2)  The National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) developed Funds from Operations (“FFO”) as a relative 
non-U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) financial measure of performance of a REIT in order to recognize 
that income-producing real estate historically has not depreciated on the basis determined under GAAP. FFO is defined by NAREIT 
and is used by NNN as follows: net earnings (computed in accordance with GAAP) plus depreciation and amortization of real 
estate assets, excluding gains (or losses) on the disposition of certain assets, any impairment charges on a depreciable real estate 
asset and NNN’s share of these items from NNN’s unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures.

Funds From Operations (FFO) Reconciliation

FFO is generally considered by industry analysts to be an appropriate measure of operating performance of real estate 
companies. FFO does not necessarily represent cash provided by operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should 
not be considered an alternative to net income as an indication of NNN’s operating performance or to cash flow as a 
measure of liquidity or ability to make distributions. Management considers FFO an appropriate measure of operating 
performance of an equity REIT because it primarily excludes the assumption that the value of the real estate assets 
diminishes predictably over time, and because industry analysts have accepted it as an operating performance measure. 
NNN’s computation of FFO may differ from the methodology for calculating FFO used by other equity REITs, and 
therefore, may not be comparable to such other REITs.

The following table reconciles FFO to the most directly comparable GAAP measure, net earnings for the years ended 
December 31:

Net earnings available to common stockholders

$

217,193

$

200,877

$

162,402

$

155,167

$

132,222

2017

2016

2015

2014

2013

Real estate depreciation and amortization:

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax

expense and noncontrolling interests

Impairment losses – depreciable real estate, net of

recoveries and income tax expense

173,404

148,779

134,380

115,888

—

—

—

3

99,048

343

(36,258)

(27,137)

(10,397)

(10,904)

(5,442)

4,840

8,025

2,808

748

2,451

FFO available to common stockholders

$

359,179

$

330,544

$

289,193

$

260,902

$

228,622

For a discussion of material events affecting the comparability of the information reflected in the selected financial data, 
refer to “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

 19

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

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with "Item 6. Selected Financial Data," and the 
consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K, and the 
forward-looking disclaimer language in italics before "Item 1. Business."

The term "NNN" or the "Company" refers to National Retail Properties, Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. NNN 
may elect to treat certain subsidiaries as taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries. These subsidiaries and their 
majority owned and controlled subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "TRS." At the close of business on December 
31, 2015, NNN elected to revoke its election to classify the TRS as taxable REIT subsidiaries.

Overview

NNN, a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated real estate investment trust ("REIT") formed in 1984. NNN's assets are 
primarily real estate assets. NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased primarily to retail 
tenants under long-term net leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties," or "Property Portfolio," or 
individually a "Property").

NNN owned 2,764 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 29,093,000 square feet, located in 48 
states, with a weighted average remaining lease term of 11.5 years as of December 31, 2017. Approximately 99 percent of 
the Properties were leased as of December 31, 2017.

NNN’s management team focuses on certain key indicators to evaluate the financial condition and operating performance 
of NNN. The key indicators for NNN include items such as: the composition of the Property Portfolio (such as tenant, 
geographic and line of trade diversification), the occupancy rate of the Property Portfolio, certain financial performance 
ratios and profitability measures, industry trends and industry performance compared to that of NNN.

NNN evaluates the creditworthiness of its current and prospective tenants. This evaluation may include reviewing 
available financial statements, store level financial performance, press releases, public credit ratings from major credit 
rating agencies, industry news publications and financial market data (debt and equity pricing). NNN may also evaluate the 
business and operations of it's tenants, including periodically meeting with senior management of certain tenants. 

NNN continues to maintain its diversification by tenant, geography and tenant’s line of trade. NNN’s largest lines of trade 
concentrations are the convenience store and restaurant (including full and limited service) sectors. These sectors represent 
a large part of the freestanding retail property marketplace and NNN’s management believes these sectors present 
attractive investment opportunities. The Property Portfolio is geographically concentrated in the south and southeast 
United States, which are regions of historically above-average population growth. Given these concentrations, any 
financial hardship within these sectors or geographic regions could have a material adverse effect on the financial 
condition and operating performance of NNN.

As of December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, the Property Portfolio has remained at least 99 percent leased. As of 
December 31, 2017, the average remaining lease term of the Property Portfolio was 11.5 years, which was consistent with 
the past three years. High occupancy levels coupled with a net lease structure, provides enhanced probability of 
maintaining operating earnings.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of NNN’s consolidated financial statements in conformance with accounting principles generally accepted 
in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts 
of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses as well as other disclosures in the financial statements. On an ongoing basis, 
management evaluates its estimates and assumptions; however, actual results may differ from these estimates and 
assumptions, which in turn could have a material impact on NNN’s financial statements. A summary of NNN’s accounting 
policies and procedures are included in Note 1 of NNN’s consolidated financial statements. Management believes the 
following critical accounting policies, among others, affect its more significant estimates and assumptions used in the 
preparation of NNN’s consolidated financial statements.

Real Estate Portfolio.  NNN records the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost 
of Properties developed or funded by NNN includes direct and indirect costs of construction, property taxes, interest and 

 20

other miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available 
for occupancy.

Purchase Accounting for Acquisition of Real Estate Subject to a Lease.  In accordance with the Financial Accounting 
Standards Board ("FASB") guidance on business combinations, the fair value of the real estate acquired with in-place 
leases is allocated based on their fair values to the acquired tangible assets, consisting of land, building and tenant 
improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of the value of above-market and below-market 
leases, and value of in-place leases. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): 
Clarifying the definition of a Business," on January 1, 2017, acquisition and closing costs incurred on the acquisition of 
real estate with an in-place lease were expensed as incurred and recorded as real estate acquisition costs. This change did 
not have a material impact on NNN's financial position or results of operations.

Impairment  –  Real Estate.  Based upon certain events or changes in circumstances, management periodically assesses its 
Properties for possible impairment whenever the carrying value of the asset, including accrued rental income, may not be 
recoverable through operations. Events or circumstances that may occur include significant changes in real estate market 
conditions or the ability of NNN to re-lease or sell properties that are vacant or become vacant in a reasonable period of 
time. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated future cash 
flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), including the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying value of 
the individual asset. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the 
asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Real Estate –  Held For Sale.  Real estate held for sale is not depreciated and is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, 
less costs to sell.

Revenue Recognition.  Rental revenues for properties under construction commence upon completion of construction of 
the leased asset and delivery of the leased asset to the tenant. Rental revenues for non-development real estate assets are 
recognized when earned in accordance with the FASB guidance on accounting for leases, based on the terms of the lease of 
the leased asset. 

NNN's real estate is generally leased to tenants on a net lease basis, whereby the tenant is responsible for all operating 
expenses relating to the Property, generally including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, utilities, repairs and capital 
expenditures. The leases are accounted for using either the operating or the direct financing method. Such methods are 
described below:

Operating method  –  Properties with leases accounted for using the operating method are recorded at the cost 
of the real estate. Revenue is recognized as rentals are earned and expenses (including depreciation) are charged 
to operations as incurred. Buildings are depreciated on the straight-line method over their estimated useful 
lives. Leasehold interests are amortized on the straight-line method over the terms of their respective leases. 
When scheduled rental revenue varies during the lease term, income is recognized on a straight-line basis so as 
to produce a constant periodic rent over the term of the lease. Accrued rental income is the aggregate difference 
between the scheduled rents which vary during the lease term and the income recognized on a straight-line 
basis.

Direct financing method  –  Properties with leases accounted for using the direct financing method are recorded 
at their net investment (which at the inception of the lease generally represents the cost of the Property). 
Unearned income is deferred and amortized into income over the lease terms so as to produce a constant 
periodic rate of return on NNN’s net investment in the leases.

New Accounting Pronouncements.  Refer to Note 1 of the December 31, 2017, Consolidated Financial Statements for a 
summary and the anticipated impact of each accounting pronouncement on NNN's financial position or results of 
operations.

Use of Estimates.  Additional critical accounting policies of NNN include management’s estimates and assumptions 
relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the United States of America. Additional critical accounting policies include management’s estimates of the useful lives 
used in calculating depreciation expense relating to real estate assets, the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived 
assets, and the collectibility of receivables from tenants, including accrued rental income. Actual results could differ from 
those estimates.

 21

Results of Operations

Property Analysis

General.  The following table summarizes the Property Portfolio as of December 31:

Properties Owned:

Number

Total gross leasable area (square feet)

Properties:

Leased and unimproved land

Percent of Properties – leased and unimproved land

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)

Total gross leasable area (square feet) – leased

2017

2016

2015

2,764

2,535

2,257

29,093,000

27,204,000

24,964,000

2,740

99%

11.5

2,508

99%

11.6

2,236

99%

11.4

28,703,000

26,700,000

24,544,000

The following table summarizes the lease expirations, assuming none of the tenants exercise renewal options, of the 
Property Portfolio for each of the next 10 years and then thereafter in the aggregate as of December 31, 2017:

% of
Annual
Base Rent(1)
2.0%

2.7%

3.5%

4.1%

6.4%

2.6%

# of
Properties

61

75

127

121

125

99

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

Gross
Leasable
Area(2)

787,000

1,081,000

1,559,000

1,320,000

2024

2025

2026

2027

% of
Annual
Base Rent(1)
2.2%

4.7%

5.6%

8.7%

# of
Properties

50

128

184

197

Gross
Leasable
Area(2)

833,000

1,123,000

1,854,000

2,766,000

1,697,000

Thereafter

57.5%

1,566

14,540,000

1,143,000

(1)  Based on the annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2017.
(2)  Approximate square feet.

 22

 
 
The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio based on the top 10 lines of trade:

Top 10 Lines of Trade

Convenience stores

Restaurants - full service

Restaurants - limited service

Automotive service

Family entertainment centers

Health and fitness

Theaters

Automotive parts

Recreational vehicle dealers, parts and accessories

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Banks

Other

% of Annual Base Rent(1)

2017

18.1%

12.1%

7.6%

6.9%

6.4%

5.6%

4.8%

3.6%

3.4%

2.5%

2016

16.9%

11.8%

7.5%

6.6%

5.8%

5.7%

4.9%

3.9%

3.4%

3.1%

2015

16.7%

11.0%

7.2%

7.0%

5.6%

3.8%

5.2%

4.2%

3.6%

3.4%

29.0%

100.0%

30.4%

100.0%

32.3%

100.0%

(1)  Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31 of the respective year.

The following table summarizes the diversification of the Property Portfolio by state as of December 31, 2017:

State

Texas

Florida

Illinois

Ohio

North Carolina

Georgia

Tennessee

Virginia

Indiana

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Alabama

Other

# of Properties     

457

211

132

168

154

127

131

119

123

128

% of Annual 
Base Rent(1)

18.2%

8.7%

5.4%

5.3%

5.1%

4.3%

4.0%

3.9%

3.9%

3.1%

1,014

2,764

38.1%

100.0%

(1)  Based on annualized base rent for all leases in place as of December 31, 2017.

Property Acquisitions.  The following table summarizes the Property acquisitions for each of the years ended December 31 
(dollars in thousands):

Acquisitions:

Number of Properties

2017

2016

2015

276

313

221

Gross leasable area (square feet)

2,243,000

2,734,000

2,706,000

Initial cash yield

Total dollars invested(1)

6.9%

6.9%

7.2%

$

754,892

$

846,906

$

726,303

(1) 

Includes dollars invested in projects under construction or tenant improvements for each respective year.

 23

 
 
 
NNN typically funds Property acquisitions either through borrowings under NNN's unsecured revolving credit facility (the 
"Credit Facility") or by issuing its debt or equity securities in the capital markets.

Property Dispositions.  The following table summarizes the Properties sold by NNN for each of the years ended 
December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Number of properties

Gross leasable area (square feet)

Net sales proceeds

Gain, net of income tax expense

Cap rate

2017

2016

2015

48

346,000

96,757

36,655

$

$

38

490,000

103,215

27,182

$

$

19

232,000

39,116

10,450

$

$

6.0%

6.8%

5.9%

NNN typically uses the proceeds from a Property disposition to either pay down the Credit Facility or reinvest in real 
estate.

Analysis of Revenue

General.  During the year ended December 31, 2017, NNN’s rental income increased primarily due to the increase in rental 
income from Property acquisitions (See "Results of Operations – Property Analysis  – Property Acquisitions"). NNN 
anticipates increases in rental income will continue to come from additional Property acquisitions and increases in rents 
pursuant to existing lease terms.

The following summarizes NNN’s revenues (dollars in thousands):

Rental Income(1)
Real estate expense

reimbursement from tenants
Interest and other income from

real estate transactions

Interest income on commercial
mortgage residual interests

Total revenues

2017

2016

2015

Percent of Total
2016

2017

2015

2017
Versus
2016
Percent

2016
Versus
2015
Percent

$ 568,083

$ 515,954

$ 465,282

97.1%

96.7%

96.3%

10.1 %

10.9 %

15,512

14,984

14,868

724

614

1,032

988

1,677

1,778

2.7%

0.1%

0.1%

2.8%

0.2%

0.3%

3.1%

3.5 %

0.8 %

0.2%

(29.8)%

4.5 %

0.4%

(63.4)%

(5.7)%

10.5 %

$ 584,933

$ 533,647

$ 482,916

100.0%

100.0%

100.0%

9.6 %

(1) 

Includes rental income from operating leases, earned income from direct financing leases and percentage rent ("Rental Income").

Comparison of Revenues – 2017 versus 2016

Rental Income.  Rental Income increased in amount and as a percent of the total revenues for the year ended December 31, 
2017 as compared to the same period in 2016. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2017 is primarily due to a 
partial year of Rental Income received as a result of the acquisition of 276 Properties with aggregate gross leasable area of 
approximately 2,243,000 during 2017 and a full year of Rental Income received as a result of the acquisition of 313 
Properties with a gross leasable area of approximately 2,734,000 square feet in 2016.

Comparison of Revenues – 2016 versus 2015

Rental Income.  Rental Income increased in amount and as a percent of the total revenues for the year ended December 31, 
2016 as compared to the same period in 2015. The increase for the year ended December 31, 2016 is primarily due to a 
partial year of Rental Income received as a result of the acquisition of 313 Properties with aggregate gross leasable area of 
approximately 2,734,000 during 2016 and a full year of Rental Income received as a result of the acquisition of 221 
Properties with a gross leasable area of approximately 2,706,000 square feet in 2015.

 24

 
 
 
Analysis of Expenses

General.  Operating expenses increased primarily due to an increase in depreciation expense during the year ended 
December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016. The following summarizes NNN’s expenses for the year 
ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

General and administrative

Real estate

Depreciation and amortization

Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation

Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries

Retirement severance costs

Total operating expenses

Interest and other income

Interest expense

Real estate acquisition costs

Total other expenses (revenues)

2017

2016

2015

$

33,805

$

36,508

$

23,105

173,720

—

8,955

7,845

20,852

149,101

6,830

11,287

—

34,736

19,776

134,798

531

4,420

—

$

$

$

247,430

$

224,578

$

194,261

(322) $

(170) $

(109)

109,109

—

96,352

563

108,787

$

96,745

$

90,008

927

90,826

General and administrative

Real estate

Percentage of Total Expenses

Percentage of
Revenues

2017

2016

2015

2017

2016

2015

13.7 %

16.3 %

9.3 %

9.3 %

17.9 %

10.2 %

5.8 %

4.0 %

6.9%

3.9%

7.2%

4.1%

Depreciation and amortization

70.2 %

66.4 %

69.4 % 29.7 %

27.9%

27.9%

2017
Versus
2016
Percent

2016
Versus
2015
Percent

(7.4)%

10.8 %

16.5 %

5.1 %

5.4 %

10.6 %

Impairment – commercial mortgage

residual interests valuation

Impairment losses – real estate and
other charges, net of recoveries

Retirement severance costs

Total operating expenses

Interest and other income

Interest expense

Real estate acquisition costs

—

3.0 %

0.3 %

—

1.3%

0.1%

(100.0)%

1,186.3 %

3.6 %

3.2 %

5.0 %

2.2 %

—

—

1.5 %

1.3 %

2.1%

0.9%

—

—

100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 42.3 %

42.1%

40.2%

(0.3)%

(0.2)%

(0.1)%

(0.1)%

—

—

100.3 %

99.6 %

99.1 % 18.7 %

18.1%

18.6%

(20.7)%
N/C (1)

10.2 %

89.4 %

13.2 %

—

0.6 %

1.0 %

—

0.1%

0.2%

(100.0)%

155.4 %

—

15.6 %

56.0 %

7.0 %

(39.3)%

6.5 %

Total other expenses (revenues)

100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % 18.6 %

18.2%

18.8%

12.4 %

(1) Not calculable ("N/C")

Comparison of Expenses – 2017 versus 2016

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses decreased in amount for the year ended 
December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016, as well as a percentage of total operating expenses and as a 
percentage of revenues. The decrease in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2017, is 
primarily attributable to a decrease in compensation costs.

Real Estate.  Real estate expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in 
2016, but remained flat as a percentage of total operating expenses and as a percentage of revenues. The increase is 
primarily due to increases in reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses from certain properties acquired during the year 

 25

 
 
 
 
ended December 31, 2017, and from certain properties acquired during the year ended December 31, 2016, as well as 
expenses on vacant properties.

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expenses increased in amount, as a percentage of total 
operating expenses and as a percentage of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the year ended 
December 31, 2016. The increase in expenses is primarily due to the acquisition of 276 Properties with an aggregate gross 
leasable area of approximately 2,243,000 square feet in 2017 and 313 Properties with an aggregate gross leasable area of 
approximately 2,734,000 square feet during 2016.

Impairment Losses – Real Estate and Other Charges, Net of Recoveries.  NNN reviews long-lived assets for impairment 
whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. 
Events or circumstances that may occur include changes in real estate market conditions, the ability of NNN to re-lease 
properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, and the ability to sell properties at a price that exceeds NNN's 
carrying value. Management evaluates whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated future 
cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying cost of 
the individual asset. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the 
asset exceeds its fair value. During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, NNN recorded $4,953,000 and 
$8,025,000, respectively, of real estate impairments. NNN also recorded a $4,000,000 contract dispute settlement charge 
during the year ended December 31, 2017 and a $3,269,000 loss on mortgages receivable for the year ended December 31, 
2016.

Retirement Severance Costs.  For the year ended December 31, 2017, retirement severance costs relate primarily to Craig 
Macnab's retirement as CEO on April 28, 2017.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased in amount, as a percentage of total other expenses (revenues) and as a 
percentage of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same period in 2016.

The following represents the primary changes in debt that have impacted interest expense:

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii) 

the repayment in January 2016 of $5,876,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest rate 
of 5.750%,

the repayment in March 2016 of $722,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest rate of 
6.900%,

the repayment in October 2016 of $2,709,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest 
rate of 6.400%,

the issuance in December 2016 of $350,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a maturity of 
December 2026, and stated interest rate of 3.600%,

the issuance in September 2017 of $400,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a maturity of 
October 2027, and stated interest rate of 3.500%,

the repayment in October 2017 of $250,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a stated interest 
rate of 6.875%, and

the increase of $28,138,000 in the weighted average outstanding balance on the Credit Facility and a 
higher weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to the same 
period in 2016. 

Comparison of Expenses – 2016 versus 2015

General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 
2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, but decreased both as a percentage of total operating expenses and as a 
percentage of revenues. The increase in general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2016, is 
primarily attributable to an increase in compensation costs. 

Real Estate.  Real estate expenses increased for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in 
2015, but decreased both as a percentage of total operating expenses and as a percentage of revenues. The increase is 
primarily due to the increase in tenant reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses related to a partial year of 
reimbursable and non-reimbursable expenses from certain properties acquired in 2016 and a full year of reimbursable and 
non-reimbursable expenses from certain properties acquired in 2015.

 26

Depreciation and Amortization.  Depreciation and amortization expenses increased in amount, decreased as a percentage of 
total operating expenses and remained flat as a percentage of revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared 
to the year ended December 31, 2015. The increase in expenses is primarily due to the acquisition of 313 properties with an 
aggregate gross leasable area of approximately 2,734,000 square feet in 2016 and 221 properties with an aggregate gross 
leasable area of approximately 2,706,000 square feet during 2015.

Impairment – Commercial Mortgage Residual Interests Valuation.  As of December 31, 2015, NNN held the commercial 
mortgage residual interests (“Residuals”) from seven loan securitizations.  In 2016, the loan servicer of five of the 
securitizations exercised its clean-up call option. These clean-up calls allowed the servicers to purchase all of the trusts’ 
assets, thereby terminating future cash distributions payable to NNN as the holder of these residual interests. Unrealized 
gains and losses are reported as other comprehensive income in stockholders' equity and other than temporary valuation 
impairment. As of December 31, 2016, the remaining two Residuals are recorded at fair value. During the years ended 
December 31, 2016, and  2015, NNN recorded other than temporary valuation impairments as a reduction of earnings from 
operations of $6,830,000 and, $531,000. The other than temporary valuation impairment recorded during the year ended 
December 31, 2016 related primarily to the execution of the clean-up call option on the five securitizations.  

Impairment Losses – Real Estate and Other Charges, Net of Recoveries.  NNN reviews long-lived assets for impairment 
whenever certain events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. 
Events or circumstances that may occur include changes in real estate market conditions, the ability of NNN to re-lease 
properties that are currently vacant or become vacant, and the ability to sell properties at a price that exceeds NNN's 
carrying value. Management evaluates whether an impairment in value has occurred by comparing the estimated future 
cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying cost of 
the individual asset. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying value of the 
asset exceeds its fair value. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, NNN recorded $8,025,000 and 
$3,970,000, respectively, of real estate impairments. NNN also recorded a $3,269,000 loss on mortgages receivable for the 
year ended December 31, 2016, and a $450,000 loss on the sale of mortgages receivable during the year ended December 
31, 2015.

Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased in amount and as a percentage of total other expenses (revenues) for the year 
ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the same period in 2015, and decreased as a percentage of revenues.

The following represents the primary changes in debt that have impacted interest expense:

(i) 

(ii) 

(iii) 

(iv) 

(v) 

(vi) 

(vii) 

the issuance in October 2015 of $400,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a maturity of 
November 2025, and stated interest rate of 4.000%,

the repayment in December 2015 of $150,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a stated 
interest rate of 6.150%,

the repayment in January 2016 of $5,876,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest rate 
of 5.750%,

the repayment in March 2016 of $722,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest rate of 
6.900%,

the repayment in October 2016 of $2,709,000 principal amount of mortgages payable with an interest 
rate of 6.400%,

the issuance in December 2016 of $350,000,000 principal amount of notes payable with a maturity of 
December 2026, and stated interest rate of 3.600%, and

the decrease of $8,543,000 in the weighted average outstanding balance on the Credit Facility and a 
slightly higher weighted average interest rate for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to the 
same period in 2015. 

 27

Impact of Inflation

NNN’s leases typically contain provisions to mitigate the adverse impact of inflation on NNN’s results of operations. 
Tenant leases generally provide for limited increases in rent as a result of fixed increases, increases in the consumer price 
index, and/or, to a lesser extent, increases in the tenant’s sales volume. During times when inflation is greater than 
increases in rent, rent increases will not keep up with the rate of inflation.

Properties are leased to tenants under long-term, net leases which typically require the tenant to pay certain operating 
expenses for a Property, thus, NNN’s exposure to inflation is reduced with respect to these expenses. Inflation may have an 
adverse impact on NNN’s tenants.

Liquidity

General.  NNN’s demand for funds has been and will continue to be primarily for (i) payment of operating expenses and 
cash dividends; (ii) Property acquisitions and development; (iii)  capital expenditures; (iv) payment of principal and interest 
on its outstanding indebtedness; and (v) other investments.

NNN expects to meet short-term liquidity requirements through cash provided from operations and NNN’s Credit Facility. 
As of December 31, 2017, there was $120,500,000 outstanding balance and $779,500,000 was available for future 
borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding undrawn letters of credit totaling $230,000. NNN anticipates its long-term 
capital needs will be funded by the Credit Facility, cash provided from operations, the issuance of long-term debt or the 
issuance of common or preferred equity or other instruments convertible into or exchangeable for common or preferred 
equity. However, there can be no assurance that additional financing or capital will be available, or that the terms will be 
acceptable or advantageous to NNN.

Cash and Cash Equivalents.  NNN's cash and cash equivalents includes the aggregate of Cash and cash equivalents and 
Restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the Consolidated Balance Sheets. The table below summarizes NNN’s cash 
flows for each of the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Cash and cash equivalents:

Provided by operating activities

Used in investing activities

Provided by (used in) financing activities

Increase (decrease)

Net cash at beginning of year

Net cash at end of year

2017

2016

2015

$

421,557

$

415,337

$

341,095

(625,557)

(89,176)

(293,176)

294,540

(779,943)

644,886

280,280

14,260

$

1,364

$

294,540

$

(644,544)

307,105

3,656

10,604

14,260

Cash provided by operating activities represents cash received primarily from Rental Income and interest income less cash 
used for general and administrative expenses. NNN’s cash flow from operating activities has been sufficient to pay the 
distributions for each period presented. The change in cash provided by operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 
2016 and 2015, is primarily the result of changes in revenues and expenses as discussed in “Results of Operations.” Cash 
generated from operations is expected to fluctuate in the future.

Changes in cash for investing activities are primarily attributable to acquisitions and dispositions of Properties. NNN 
typically uses proceeds from its Credit Facility to fund the acquisition of its Properties.

 28

 
NNN’s financing activities for the year ended December 31, 2017, included the following significant transactions:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

$287,500,000 paid to fully redeem NNN's 6.625% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock (the 
"Series D Preferred Stock") in February,

$394,722,000 in net proceeds from the issuance of the 3.500% notes payable in September,

$250,000,000 in repayment of the 6.875% notes payable in October,

$9,391,000 in net proceeds from the issuance of 229,696 shares of common stock in connection with the 
Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP”), 

$243,822,000 in net proceeds from the issuance of 5,821,366 shares of common stock in connection with 
the at-the-market ("ATM") equity program,

$3,598,000 in dividends paid to holders of the depositary shares of NNN’s Series D Preferred Stock,

$16,387,000 in dividends paid to holders of the depositary shares of NNN’s 5.700% Series E Cumulative 
Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series E Preferred Stock"),

$17,940,000 in dividends paid to holders of the depositary shares of NNN’s 5.200% Series F Cumulative 
Redeemable Preferred Stock (the "Series F Preferred Stock"), and

$277,120,000 in dividends paid to common stockholders.

Financing Strategy.  NNN’s financing objective is to manage its capital structure effectively in order to provide sufficient 
capital to execute its operating strategy while servicing its debt requirements, maintaining its investment grade credit 
rating, staggering debt maturities and providing value to NNN’s stockholders. NNN generally utilizes debt and equity 
security offerings, bank borrowings, proceeds from the disposition of certain properties, and to a lesser extent, internally 
generated funds to meet its capital needs.

NNN typically funds its short-term liquidity requirements, including investments in additional Properties, with cash from 
its Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2017, there was $120,500,000 outstanding balance and $779,500,000 was available 
for future borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding undrawn letters of credit totaling $230,000.

As of December 31, 2017, NNN’s ratio of total debt to total gross assets (before accumulated depreciation and 
amortization) was approximately 35 percent and the ratio of secured indebtedness to total gross assets was less than one 
percent. The ratio of total debt to total market capitalization was approximately 27 percent. Certain financial agreements to 
which NNN is a party contain covenants that limit NNN’s ability to incur additional debt under certain circumstances. The 
organizational documents of NNN do not limit the absolute amount or percentage of indebtedness that NNN may incur. 
Additionally, NNN may change its financing strategy.

Contractual Obligations and Commercial Commitments.  The information in the following table summarizes NNN’s 
contractual obligations and commercial commitments outstanding as of December 31, 2017. The table presents principal 
cash flows by year-end of the expected maturity for debt obligations and commercial commitments outstanding as of 
December 31, 2017.

Long-term debt(1) 
Long-term debt – interest(2)

Credit Facility

Operating lease

Expected Maturity Date (dollars in thousands)

Total

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

$ 2,487,942

$

538

$

567

$

596

$ 300,630

$ 325,664

$ 1,859,947

646,209

120,500

5,734

97,323

97,294

97,265

89,669

—

743

—

758

—

773

—

788

78,124

120,500

804

186,534

—

1,868

Total contractual cash obligations

$ 3,260,385

$

98,604

$

98,619

$

98,634

$ 391,087

$ 525,092

$ 2,048,349

(1) 

(2) 

Includes only principal amounts outstanding under mortgages payable and notes payable and excludes unamortized mortgage 
premiums, note discounts and note costs.
Interest calculation based on stated rate of the principal amount.

 29

 
 
In addition to the contractual obligations outlined above, NNN has committed to fund construction commitments on 27 
Properties.  The improvements on such Properties are estimated to be completed within 12 months on such Properties. 
These construction commitments, at December 31, 2017, are outlined in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Total commitment(1)

Amount funded

Remaining commitment

$

129,925

67,719

62,206

(1)  Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs and capitalized interest

As of December 31, 2017, NNN did not have any other material contractual cash obligations, such as purchase obligations, 
financing lease obligations or other long-term liabilities other than those reflected in the table. In addition to items reflected 
in the table, NNN has issued preferred stock with cumulative preferential cash distributions, as described below under 
“Dividends.”

Management anticipates satisfying these obligations with a combination of NNN’s cash provided from operations, current 
capital resources on hand, its Credit Facility, debt or equity financings and asset dispositions.

Generally the Properties are leased under long-term net leases, which require the tenant to pay all property taxes and 
assessments, to maintain the interior and exterior of the Property, and to carry property and liability insurance coverage. 
Therefore, management anticipates that capital demands to meet obligations with respect to these Properties will be modest 
for the foreseeable future and can be met with funds from operations and working capital. Certain Properties are subject to 
leases under which NNN retains responsibility for specific costs and expenses associated with the Property. Management 
anticipates the costs associated with these Properties, NNN's vacant Properties or those Properties that become vacant will 
also be met with funds from operations and working capital. NNN may be required to borrow under its Credit Facility or 
use other sources of capital in the event of significant capital expenditures or major repairs.

The lost revenues and increased property expenses resulting from vacant Properties or uncollectibility of lease revenues 
could have a material adverse effect on the liquidity and results of operations if NNN is unable to re-lease the Properties at 
comparable rental rates and in a timely manner. As of December 31, 2017, NNN owned 24 vacant, un-leased Properties 
which accounted for approximately one percent of total Properties held in the Property Portfolio. Additionally, as of 
January 31, 2018, less than one percent of total Properties held in the Property Portfolio was leased to two tenants that each 
filed a voluntary petition for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. As a result, these tenants have the 
right to reject or affirm their leases with NNN.

Dividends.  NNN has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, as amended, 
and related regulations and intends to continue to operate so as to remain qualified as a REIT for federal income tax 
purposes. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income tax on income that it distributes to its stockholders, 
provided that it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain other requirements for qualifying as a 
REIT. If NNN fails to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year, it will be subject to federal income tax on its taxable income at 
regular corporate rates and will not be permitted to qualify for treatment as a REIT for federal income tax purposes for the 
four years following the year during which qualification is lost. Such an event could materially adversely affect NNN’s 
income and ability to pay dividends. NNN believes it has been structured as, and its past and present operations qualify 
NNN as, a REIT.

One of NNN’s primary objectives, consistent with its policy of retaining sufficient cash for reserves and working capital 
purposes and maintaining its status as a REIT, is to distribute a substantial portion of its funds available from operations to 
its stockholders in the form of dividends.

The following table outlines the dividends declared and paid for NNN's common stock for the years ended December 31 
(dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Dividends
Per share

$

2017
277,120
1.860

$

2016
257,007
1.780

$

2015
228,699
1.710

 30

The following presents the characterizations for tax purposes of such common stock dividends for the years ended 
December 31:

Ordinary dividends

Qualified dividends

Capital gain

Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain

Nontaxable distributions

2017

2016

2015

$

1.559781

83.8592% $

1.513705

85.0396% $

1.363294

79.7248%

—

0.035041

0.012194

0.252984

—

1.8839%

0.6556%

—

—

—

—

—

—

13.6013%

0.266295

14.9604%

0.019005

0.007806

0.011055

0.308840

1.1114%

0.4565%

0.6465%

18.0608%

$

1.860000

100.0000% $

1.780000

100.0000% $

1.710000

100.0000%

On January 16, 2018, NNN declared a dividend of $0.475 per share, payable February 15, 2018, to its common 
stockholders of record as of January 31, 2018.

Holders of NNN’s preferred stock issuances are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, 
cumulative preferential cash distributions based on the stated rate and liquidation preference per annum. The following 
table outlines the dividends declared and paid for NNN's preferred stock for the years ended December 31 (dollars in 
thousands, except per share data):

Series D Preferred Stock(1):

Dividends
Per share

Series E Preferred Stock(2):

Dividends
Per share

Series F Preferred Stock(3):

Dividends
Per share

2017

2016

2015

$

3,598
0.312847

$

19,047
1.656250

$

19,047
1.656250

16,387
1.425000

16,387
1.425000

16,387
1.425000

17,940
1.300000

3,189
0.231111

—
—

(1)    The Series D Preferred Stock was redeemed in February 2017. The dividends paid in 2017 include 

accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date.

(2)   The Series E Preferred Stock has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed by 

NNN. The earliest redemption date for the Series E Preferred Stock is May 2018. 

(3)   The Series F Preferred Stock was issued in October 2016 and has no maturity date and will remain 

outstanding unless redeemed by NNN. The earliest redemption date for the Series F Preferred Stock is 
October 2021.

 31

 
The following presents the characterizations for tax purposes of such preferred stock dividends for the years ended 
December 31:

2017
Percentage of Total

Series D (1)
Series E
Series F (2)

2016
Percentage of Total

Series D (1)
Series E
Series F (2)

2015
Percentage of Total

Series D (1)
Series E

Ordinary
Dividends

Qualified
Dividends

Capital Gain

Unrecaptured
Section 1250
Gain

Totals

97.0607%

—

2.1804%

0.7589%

100.0000%

$ 0.303652
$ 1.383115
$ 1.261789

— $ 0.006821
— $ 0.031071
— $ 0.028345

$ 0.002374
$ 0.010814
$ 0.009866

$ 0.312847
$ 1.425000
$ 1.300000

100.0000%

$ 1.656250
$ 1.425000
$ 0.231111

—

—
—
—

—

—
—
—

—

100.0000%

— $ 1.656250
— $ 1.425000
— $ 0.231111

97.2400%

1.4134%

0.5570%

0.7896%

100.0000%

$ 1.610538
$ 1.385670

$ 0.023409
$ 0.020141

$ 0.009225
$ 0.007937

$ 0.013078
$ 0.011252

$ 1.656250
$ 1.425000

(1)  The Series D Preferred Stock was redeemed in February 2017. The dividends paid in 2017 included 

accumulated and unpaid dividends through the redemption date. 

(2)   The Series F Preferred Stock was issued in October 2016.

Capital Resources

Generally, cash needs for Property acquisitions, debt payments, capital expenditures, development and other investments 
have been funded by equity and debt offerings, bank borrowings, the sale of Properties and, to a lesser extent, by internally 
generated funds. Cash needs for operating and interest expenses and dividends have generally been funded by internally 
generated funds. If available, future sources of capital include proceeds from the public or private offering of NNN’s debt 
or equity securities, secured or unsecured borrowings from banks or other lenders, proceeds from the sale of Properties, as 
well as undistributed funds from operations.

Debt

The following is a summary of NNN’s total outstanding debt as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Line of credit payable

Mortgages payable

Notes payable

2017

Percentage
of Total

$

120,500

4.7% $

13,300

2,446,407

0.5%

94.8%

2016

—

13,878

2,297,811

Total outstanding debt

$

2,580,207

100.0% $

2,311,689

Percentage
of Total

—

0.6%

99.4%

100.0%

Indebtedness.  NNN expects to use indebtedness primarily for property acquisitions and development of single-tenant retail 
properties, either directly or through investment interests. Additionally, indebtedness may be used to refinance existing 
indebtedness.

 32

 
Line of Credit Payable.  In October 2017, NNN amended its credit agreement to increase the borrowing capacity under its 
unsecured revolving credit facility from $650,000,000 to $900,000,000 and amend certain other terms under the former 
revolving credit facility (as the context requires, the previous and new revolving credit facility, the "Credit Facility"). The 
Credit Facility had a weighted average outstanding balance of $98,277,000 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.2% for 
the year ended December 31, 2017. The Credit Facility matures January 2022, unless the Company exercises its option to 
extend maturity to January 2023. As of December 31, 2017, the Credit Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 87.5 basis 
points; however, such interest rate may change pursuant to a tiered interest rate structure based on NNN's debt rating.  The 
Credit Facility also includes an accordion feature for NNN to increase the facility size up to $1,600,000,000, subject to 
lender approval. As of December 31, 2017, there was a balance of $120,500,000 and $779,500,000 was available for future 
borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding undrawn letters of credit totaling $230,000.

In accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants, which, 
among other things, require NNN to maintain certain (i) leverage ratios, (ii) debt service coverage, (iii) cash flow coverage, 
and (iv) investment limitations. At December 31, 2017, NNN was in compliance with those covenants. In the event that 
NNN violates any of these restrictive financial covenants, it could cause the indebtedness under the Credit Facility to be 
accelerated and may impair NNN’s access to the debt and equity markets and limit NNN’s ability to pay dividends to its 
common and preferred stockholders, each of which would likely have a material adverse impact on NNN’s financial 
condition and results of operations.

Mortgages Payable.    As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, NNN had mortgages payable, including unamortized premium 
and net of unamortized debt costs, of $13,300,000 and $13,878,000 respectively. The mortgages payable had an interest 
rate of 5.23% and matures July 2023. The loan is secured by a first lien on five of the Properties and the carrying value of 
the assets was $20,917,000 at December 31, 2017.

Notes Payable.  Each of NNN’s outstanding series of non-convertible notes is summarized in the table below (dollars in 
thousands):

Notes(1)   

Issue Date

Principal

Discount(2)

Net
Price

Stated
Rate

Effective
Rate(3)

Maturity
Date

2021(4)

2022
2023(5)
2024(6)
2025(7)
2026(8)
2027(9)

July 2011

August 2012

April 2013

May 2014

October 2015

December 2016

September 2017

$ 300,000

$

4,269

$ 295,731

5.500%

5.689%

July 2021

325,000

350,000

350,000

400,000

350,000

400,000

4,989

2,594

707

964

3,860

1,628

320,011

3.800%

3.985%

October 2022

347,406

3.300%

3.388%

April 2023

349,293

3.900%

3.924%

June 2024

399,036

4.000%

4.029%

November 2025

346,140

3.600%

3.733%

December 2026

398,372

3.500%

3.548%

October 2027

(1)  The proceeds from the note issuance were used to pay down outstanding indebtedness of NNN’s Credit Facility, fund future 

property acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

(2)  The note discounts are amortized to interest expense over the respective term of each debt obligation using the effective interest 

method.

(3) 

Includes the effects of the discount at issuance.

(4)  NNN entered into two interest rate hedges with a total notional amount of $150,000.  Upon issuance of the 2021 Notes, NNN 

terminated the interest rate hedge agreements resulting in a liability of $5,300, of which $5,218 was deferred in other 
comprehensive income.  The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.
(5)  NNN entered into four forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $240,000.  Upon issuance of the 2023 Notes, 
NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $3,156, of which $3,141 was deferred in other comprehensive 
income.  The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(6)  NNN entered into three forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $225,000.  Upon issuance of the 2024 Notes, 
NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $6,312, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  
The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(7)  NNN entered into four forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $300,000.  Upon issuance of the 2025 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $13,369, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  
The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(8)  NNN entered into two forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $180,000.  Upon issuance of the 2026 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a gain of $13,345, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  The 
deferred asset is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

 33

(9)  NNN entered into two forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $250,000. Upon issuance of the 2027 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $7,690, of which $7,688 was deferred in other comprehensive 
income. The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method. 

Each series of notes represents senior, unsecured obligations of NNN and is subordinated to all secured indebtedness of 
NNN. The notes are redeemable at the option of NNN, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the sum of (i) the 
principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the redemption date, and 
(ii) the make-whole amount, if any, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture relating to the notes.

In connection with the outstanding note offerings, NNN incurred debt issuance costs totaling $22,682,000 consisting 
primarily of underwriting discounts and commissions, legal and accounting fees, rating agency fees and printing expenses. 
Debt issuance costs for all note issuances have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective notes 
using the effective interest method.

In October 2017, NNN repaid the $250,000,000 6.875% notes payable that were due in October 2017.

In accordance with the terms of the indentures, pursuant to which NNN’s notes have been issued, NNN is required to meet 
certain restrictive financial covenants, which, among other things, require NNN to maintain (i) certain leverage ratios, and 
(ii) certain interest coverage. At December 31, 2017, NNN was in compliance with those covenants. NNN’s failure to 
comply with certain of its debt covenants could result in defaults that accelerate the payment under such debt and limit the 
dividends paid to NNN’s common and preferred stockholders which would likely have a material adverse impact on 
NNN’s financial condition and results of operations. In addition, these defaults could impair its access to the debt and 
equity markets.

Debt and Equity Securities

NNN has used, and expects to use in the future, issuances of debt and equity securities primarily to pay down its 
outstanding indebtedness and to finance acquisitions. In February 2015, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) which was automatically effective and permits the issuance by 
NNN of an indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities.

A description of NNN’s outstanding series of publicly held notes is found under “Debt – Notes Payable” above.

NNN completed the following underwritten public offerings of cumulative redeemable preferred stock that are still 
outstanding ("Preferred Stock Shares") (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Dividend 
Rate(1)

Issued

5.700% May 2013

Depositary 
Shares 
Outstanding(2)
11,500,000

Gross
Proceeds

Stock 
Issuance 
Costs(3)

Dividend
Per
Depositary
Share

Earliest 
Redemption 
Date(4)

$ 287,500

$

9,856

$ 1.425000 May 2018

5.200% October 2016

13,800,000

345,000

10,897

1.300000 October 2021

Series

Series E(5)
Series F(6)

(1) Holders are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, cumulative preferential cash dividends.
(2) Representing 1/100th of a preferred share. Series E issuance included 1,500,000 depositary shares in connection with the 
underwriters' over-allotment. Series F issuance included 1,800,000 depositary shares in connection with the underwriters' 
over-allotment.

(3) Consisting primarily of underwriting commissions and fees, rating agency fees, legal and accounting fees and printing 

expenses.

(4) NNN may redeem the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares at a redemption price of $2,500.00 per share (or $25.00 

per depositary share), plus all accumulated and unpaid dividends. 

(5) NNN used the net proceeds from the offering for general corporate purposes and funding property acquisitions.
(6) NNN used the net proceeds from the offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under its Credit Facility, fund property 

acquisitions and for general corporate purposes.

The Preferred Stock Shares underlying the depositary shares rank senior to NNN’s common stock with respect to dividend 
rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of NNN. The Preferred Stock Shares have no maturity date 
and will remain outstanding unless redeemed. In addition, upon a change of control, as defined in the articles 
supplementary fixing the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock Shares, NNN may redeem the Preferred Stock 

 34

Shares underlying the depositary shares at a redemption price of $2,500.00 per share (or $25.00 per depositary share), plus 
all accumulated and unpaid dividends, and in limited circumstances the holders of depositary shares may convert some or 
all of their Preferred Stock Shares into shares of NNN's common stock at conversion rates provided in the related articles 
supplementary. As of February 13, 2018, the Series E and Series F Preferred Stock Shares were not redeemable or 
convertible.

In February 2017, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (11,500,000) representing interests in its 6.625% Series 
D Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock was redeemed at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid 
dividends through the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.3128472 per depositary share. The excess 
carrying amount of preferred stock redeemed over the cash paid to redeem the preferred stock was $9,855,000 of  issuance 
costs.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.  In February 2015, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the 
Commission for its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan (“DRIP”) which permits the issuance by NNN of 
16,000,000 shares of common stock. NNN's DRIP provides an economical and convenient way for current stockholders 
and other interested new investors to invest in NNN's common stock. The following outlines the common stock issuances 
pursuant to the DRIP for the year ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Shares of common stock

Net proceeds

2017

2016

2015

229,696

187,626

$

9,391

$

8,340

$

196,584

7,182

At-The-Market Offerings.   NNN has established an at-the-market equity program ("ATM") which allows NNN to sell 
shares of common stock from time to time. The following outlines NNN's ATM programs:

Established date

Termination date

Total allowable shares

Total shares issued as of December 31, 2017

2016 ATM

2015 ATM

2013 ATM

March 2016

February 2015

March 2013

March 2019

March 2016

February 2015

12,000,000

10,044,656

10,000,000

9,852,465

9,000,000

6,252,812

The following table outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to NNN's ATM equity program (dollars in thousands, 
except per share data):

Shares of common stock

Average price per share (net)

Net proceeds
Stock issuance costs(1)

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

5,821,366

5,716,222

8,573,533

$

$

$

41.88

243,822

3,782

$

$

$

46.48

265,696

4,266

$

$

$

37.45

321,067

4,016

               (1)        Stock issuance costs consist primarily of underwriters' fees and commissions, and legal and 

                                    accounting fees.

Commercial Mortgage Residual Interests

As of December 31, 2015, NNN held the commercial mortgage residual interests (“Residuals”) from seven loan 
securitizations.  In 2016, the loan servicer of five of the securitizations exercised its clean-up call option. These clean-up 
calls allowed the servicers to purchase all of the trusts’ assets, thereby terminating future cash distributions payable to NNN 
as the holder of these residual interests. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, NNN recorded an other than 
temporary valuation impairment of $6,830,000 and $531,000, respectively, as a reduction of earnings from operations.  The 
other than temporary valuation impairment recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the execution of 
the clean-up call option on the five securitizations, as well as the fair value adjustment on the remaining two 
securitizations. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the remaining two Residuals are recorded at a fair value of $36,000 
and included in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There was no other than temporary valuation impairment 
recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017.

 35

 
Item7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

NNN is exposed to interest rate risk primarily as a result of its variable rate Credit Facility and its fixed rate debt which is 
used to finance NNN’s development and acquisition activities, as well as for general corporate purposes. NNN’s interest 
rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cash flows and to lower its 
overall borrowing costs. To achieve its objectives, NNN borrows at both fixed and variable rates on its long-term debt. As 
of December 31, 2017, NNN had no outstanding derivatives.

The information in the table below summarizes NNN’s market risks associated with its debt obligations outstanding as of 
December 31, 2017 and 2016. The table presents principal payments and related interest rates by year for debt obligations 
outstanding as of December 31, 2017. The table incorporates only those debt obligations that existed as of December 31, 
2017, and it does not consider those debt obligations or positions which could arise after this date and therefore has limited 
predictive value. As a result, NNN’s ultimate realized gain or loss with respect to interest rate fluctuations will depend on 
the exposures that arise during the period, NNN’s hedging strategies at that time and interest rates. If interest rates on 
NNN’s variable rate debt increased by one percent, NNN’s interest expense would have increased by less than one percent 
for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Debt Obligations (dollars in thousands)

Variable Rate Debt

Credit Facility

Fixed Rate Debt

Mortgages(1)

Unsecured Debt(2)

Debt
Obligation

Weighted
Average
Interest Rate

Debt
Obligation

Weighted
Average
Interest Rate

Debt
Obligation

Effective
Interest
Rate

$

$

$

$

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

120,500

2.16%

—

—

120,500

2.16%

120,500

—

$

$

$

$

623

652

682

716

750

9,969

13,392

13,392

13,987

5.23%

5.23%

5.23%

5.23%

5.23%

5.23%

5.23%

$

$

$

$

—

—

—

—

—

—

298,209

5.69%

322,400

1,842,143

3.99%
3.67% (3)

2,462,752

4.00%

2,507.106

2,367,102

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

Total

Fair Value:

December 31, 2017

December 31, 2016

(1)  NNN's mortgages payable represent principal payments by year and include unamortized premiums and exclude debt costs.
(2) 

Includes NNN’s notes payable, each exclude debt costs and are net of unamortized discounts. NNN uses market prices quoted from 
Bloomberg, a third party, which is a Level 1 input, to determine the fair value.

(3)  Weighted average effective interest rate for periods after 2022.

 36

 
  
  
  
Item 8.  Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 
31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, National Retail 
Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over 
financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United 
States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related 
consolidated statements of income and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the 
period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item15(a) 
and our report dated February 13, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its 
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s 
Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal 
control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are 
required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the 
applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform 
the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in 
all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material 
weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, 
and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides 
a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the 
reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with 
generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and 
procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the 
transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded 
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and 
that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and 
directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized 
acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, 
projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate 
because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Certified Public Accountants

Orlando, Florida
February 13, 2018 

 37

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Shareholders and the Board of Directors of National Retail Properties, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of National Retail Properties, Inc. and 
Subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of income 
and comprehensive income, equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 
2017, and the related notes and financial statement schedules listed in the Index at Item 15(a) (collectively 
referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material 
respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the 
consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 
31, 2017, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board 
(United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, 
based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring 
Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) and our report dated February 13, 2018 
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express 
an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm 
registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with 
the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange 
Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan 
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material 
misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of 
material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that 
respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts 
and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used 
and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial 
statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Certified Public Accountants

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.

Orlando, Florida
February 13, 2018 

 38

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Real estate portfolio:

ASSETS

December 31,
2017

December 31,
2016

Accounted for using the operating method, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization

$

6,428,928

$

5,879,046

Accounted for using the direct financing method

Real estate held for sale

Cash and cash equivalents

Receivables, net of allowance of $1,119 and $1,006, respectively

Accrued rental income, net of allowance of $1,936 and $3,078, respectively

Debt costs, net of accumulated amortization of $12,667 and $11,268, respectively

Other assets

Total assets

Liabilities:

Line of credit payable

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Mortgages payable, including unamortized premium and net of unamortized debt costs

Notes payable, net of unamortized discount and unamortized debt costs

Accrued interest payable

Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies (Note 18)

Equity:

Stockholders’ equity:

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 15,000,000 shares

6.625% Series D, 115,000 shares issued and outstanding, at December 31, 2016, at stated

liquidation value of $2,500 per share

5.700% Series E, 115,000 shares issued and outstanding, at stated liquidation value of $2,500

per share

5.200% Series F, 138,000 shares issued and outstanding, at stated liquidation value of $2,500

per share

Common stock, $0.01 par value. Authorized 375,000,000 shares; 153,577,028 and 147,149,945
   shares issued and outstanding, respectively

Capital in excess of par value

Accumulated deficit

Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

Total stockholders’ equity of NNN

Noncontrolling interests

Total equity

Total liabilities and equity

9,650

4,083

1,364

4,317

25,916

5,380

80,896

11,230

26,084

294,540

3,418

25,101

2,715

92,017

$

6,560,534

$

6,334,151

$

120,500

$

13,300

2,446,407

20,311

119,106

—

13,878

2,297,811

19,665

85,869

2,719,624

2,417,223

—

287,500

287,500

287,500

345,000

345,000

1,537

1,473

3,599,475

3,322,771

(379,181)

(13,738)

(319,254)

(8,191)

3,840,593

3,916,799

317

129

3,840,910

3,916,928

$

6,560,534

$

6,334,151

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 39

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Revenues:

Rental income from operating leases

Earned income from direct financing leases

Percentage rent

Real estate expense reimbursement from tenants

Interest and other income from real estate transactions

Interest income on commercial mortgage residual interests

Operating expenses:

General and administrative

Real estate

Depreciation and amortization

Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation

Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries

Retirement severance costs

Earnings from operations

Other expenses (revenues):

Interest and other income

Interest expense

Real estate acquisition costs

Earnings from operations before income tax expense

Income tax expense

Earnings before gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense

Gain on disposition of real estate, net of income tax expense

Net earnings

Earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

$

565,405

$

512,883

$

462,346

978

1,700

15,512

724

614

1,336

1,735

14,984

1,032

1,677

1,506

1,430

14,868

988

1,778

584,933

533,647

482,916

33,805

23,105

173,720

—

8,955

7,845

247,430

337,503

(322)

109,109

—

108,787

228,716

—

228,716

36,655

265,371

(398)

36,508

20,852

149,101

6,830

11,287

—

224,578

309,069

(170)

96,352

563

96,745

212,324

—

212,324

27,182

239,506

(6)

34,736

19,776

134,798

531

4,420

—

194,261

288,655

(109)

90,008

927

90,826

197,829

(10,318)

187,511

10,450

197,961

(125)

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

197,836

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements. 

 40

 
  
 
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME – CONTINUED
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Series D preferred stock dividends

Series E preferred stock dividends

Series F preferred stock dividends

Excess of redemption value over carrying value of Series D preferred shares

redeemed

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders

Net earnings per share of common stock:

Basic

Diluted

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding:

Basic

Diluted

Other comprehensive income:

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges

Deferred fair value of forward starting swaps

Net loss – commercial mortgage residual interests

Net gain – available-for-sale securities

Comprehensive income attributable to NNN

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

197,836

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

(9,855)

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

—

(19,047)

(16,387)

—

—

217,193

$

200,877

$

162,402

1.45

1.45

$

$

1.39

1.38

$

$

1.21

1.20

$

$

$

149,111,188

144,176,224

133,998,674

149,432,641

144,660,633

134,489,416

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

197,836

1,932

(7,688)

—

209

2,802

13,345

(4,454)

468

1,902

(13,369)

(339)

112

$

259,426

$

251,661

$

186,142

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 41

 
  
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY
Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Series D
Preferred
Stock

Series E
Preferred
Stock

Series F
Preferred
Stock

Common
Stock

Capital in
  Excess of  
Par Value

Retained
Earnings 
(Loss)

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)

Total
  Stockholders’  
Equity

  Noncontrolling  
Interests

Total
Equity

Balances at December 31, 2014

$ 287,500

$ 287,500

$

— $

1,322

$ 2,711,678

$ (196,827) $

(8,658) $

3,082,515

$

Net earnings

Dividends declared and paid:

$1.65625 per depositary share of

Series D preferred stock

$1.42500 per depositary share of

Series E preferred stock

$1.71 per share of common stock

Issuance of common stock:
34,230 shares – director

compensation

12,065 shares – stock purchase plan

8,573,533 shares – ATM equity

program

Issuance of 209,284 shares of restricted

common stock

Stock issuance costs

Amortization of deferred compensation

Amortization of interest rate hedges

Deferred fair value of forward starting

swaps

Unrealized loss – commercial
mortgage residual interests

Realized gain – commercial mortgage

residual interests

Valuation adjustments – available-for-

sale securities

Contributions from noncontrolling

interests

Distributions to noncontrolling

interests

Sale of noncontrolling interests

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

—

—

86

2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

197,836

—

—

(19,047)

(16,387)

6,886

(228,699)

991

455

324,998

(311)

(4,178)

8,679

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,902

197,836

(19,047)

(16,387)

(221,811)

991

455

325,084

(309)

(4,178)

8,679

1,902

(13,369)

(13,369)

(585)

(585)

246

112

—

—

—

246

112

—

—

—

577

125

$ 3,083,092

197,961

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

334

(362)

(415)

(19,047)

(16,387)

(221,811)

991

455

325,084

(309)

(4,178)

8,679

1,902

(13,369)

(585)

246

112

334

(362)

(415)

Balances at December 31, 2015

$ 287,500

$ 287,500

$

— $

1,412

$ 3,049,198

$ (263,124) $

(20,352) $

3,342,134

$

259

$ 3,342,393

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 42

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY – CONTINUED
Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Series D
Preferred
Stock

Series E
Preferred
Stock

Series F
Preferred
Stock

Common
Stock

Capital in
  Excess of  
Par Value

Retained
Earnings 
(Loss)

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)

Total
  Stockholders’  
Equity

  Noncontrolling  
Interests

Total
Equity

Balances at December 31, 2015

$ 287,500

$ 287,500

$

— $

1,412

$3,049,198

$ (263,124) $

(20,352) $

3,342,134

$

259

$ 3,342,393

239,500

6

239,506

Net earnings

Dividends declared and paid:

$1.65625 per depositary share of

Series D preferred stock

$1.42500 per depositary share of

Series E preferred stock

$0.231111 per depositary share of

Series F preferred stock

$1.78 per share of common stock

Issuance of 13,800,000 depositary 
shares of Series F preferred stock

Issuance of common stock:
31,807 shares – director

compensation

8,444 shares – stock purchase plan

5,716,222 shares – ATM equity

program

Issuance of 222,157 shares of restricted

common stock

Stock issuance costs

Amortization of deferred compensation

Amortization of interest rate hedges

Deferred fair value of forward starting

swaps

Unrealized loss – commercial
mortgage residual interests

Realized gain – commercial mortgage

residual interests

Valuation adjustments – available-for-

sale securities

Distributions to noncontrolling

interests

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

— 345,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

—

—

—

57

2

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

239,500

—

—

—

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

7,949

(257,007)

(10,897)

1,148

389

269,905

(264)

(4,266)

9,609

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2,802

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

(249,056)

334,103

1,148

389

269,962

(262)

(4,266)

9,609

2,802

13,345

13,345

(182)

(182)

(4,272)

(4,272)

468

—

468

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(136)

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

(249,056)

334,103

1,148

389

269,962

(262)

(4,266)

9,609

2,802

13,345

(182)

(4,272)

468

(136)

Balances at December 31, 2016

$ 287,500

$ 287,500

$ 345,000

$

1,473

$3,322,771

$ (319,254) $

(8,191) $

3,916,799

$

129

$ 3,916,928

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 43

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EQUITY – CONTINUED
Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)

Series D
Preferred
Stock

Series E
Preferred
Stock

Series F
Preferred
Stock

Common
Stock

Capital in
  Excess of  
Par Value

Retained
Earnings 
(Loss)

Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive  
Income (Loss)

Total
  Stockholders’  
Equity

  Noncontrolling  
Interests

Total
Equity

Balances at December 31, 2016

$ 287,500

$ 287,500

$ 345,000

$

1,473

$3,322,771

$ (319,254) $

(8,191) $

3,916,799

$

Net earnings

Dividends declared and paid:

$0.312847 per depositary share of

Series D preferred stock

$1.42500 per depositary share of

Series E preferred stock

$1.30000 per depositary share of

Series F preferred stock

$1.86 per share of common stock

—

—

—

—

—

Redemption of 11,500,000 depositary
shares of Series D preferred stock

(287,500)

Issuance of common stock:
35,456 shares – director

compensation

13,695 shares – stock purchase plan

5,821,366 shares – ATM equity

program

Issuance of 274,102 shares of restricted

common stock

Stock issuance costs

Amortization of deferred compensation

Amortization of interest rate hedges

Deferred fair value of forward starting

swaps

Valuation adjustments – available-for-

sale securities

Distributions to noncontrolling interests

Noncontrolling interests

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2

—

1

—

58

3

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

264,973

—

—

—

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

8,825

(277,120)

9,855

(9,855)

1,175

563

247,546

(234)

(3,782)

12,630

—

—

—

—

126

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,932

264,973

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

(268,293)

(287,500)

1,176

563

247,604

(231)

(3,782)

12,630

1,932

(7,688)

(7,688)

209

—

—

209

—

126

129

398

$ 3,916,928

265,371

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(84)

(126)

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

(268,293)

(287,500)

1,176

563

247,604

(231)

(3,782)

12,630

1,932

(7,688)

209

(84)

—

Balances at December 31, 2017

$

— $ 287,500

$ 345,000

$

1,537

$3,599,475

$ (379,181) $

(13,738) $

3,840,593

$

317

$ 3,840,910

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 44

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net earnings

Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities:

Depreciation and amortization

Impairment losses – real estate and other charges, net of recoveries

Impairment – commercial mortgage residual interests valuation

Amortization of notes payable discount

Amortization of debt costs

Amortization of mortgages payable premium

Amortization of deferred interest rate hedges

Settlement of forward starting swaps

Gain on disposition of real estate

Deferred income taxes

Performance incentive plan expense

Performance incentive plan payment

Change in operating assets and liabilities, net of assets acquired and liabilities
assumed:

Decrease in real estate leased to others using the direct financing method

Increase in receivables

Increase in accrued rental income

Decrease in other assets

Increase (decrease) in accrued interest payable

Increase (decrease) in other liabilities

Other

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

$

265,371

$

239,506

$

197,961

173,720

4,953

—

1,788

3,502

(85)

1,932

(7,688)

(36,655)

—

14,223

(862)

884

(175)

(1,752)

1,960

646

(90)

(115)

149,101

11,294

6,830

1,394

3,086

(147)

2,802

13,345

(27,182)

—

11,401

(581)

1,364

(74)

(252)

1,663

(448)

2,636

(401)

134,798

4,420

531

1,306

2,915

(207)

1,902

(13,369)

(10,807)

10,488

10,474

(676)

1,277

(335)

(368)

4,996

2,717

(6,610)

(318)

341,095

Net cash provided by operating activities

421,557

415,337

Cash flows from investing activities:

Proceeds from the disposition of real estate

Additions to real estate:

Accounted for using the operating method

Principal payments on mortgages and notes receivable

Other

Net cash used in investing activities

97,245

104,117

38,502

(721,893)

(885,966)

(683,243)

1,250

(2,159)

4,141

(2,235)

2,363

(2,166)

(625,557)

(779,943)

(644,544)

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 45

 
 
 
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS – CONTINUED
(dollars in thousands)

Cash flows from financing activities:

Proceeds from line of credit payable

Repayment of line of credit payable

Repayment of mortgages payable

Proceeds from notes payable

Repayment of notes payable

Payment of debt costs

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

Proceeds from issuance of Series F preferred stock

Stock issuance costs

Redemption of Series D preferred stock

Payment of Series D preferred stock dividends

Payment of Series E preferred stock dividends

Payment of Series F preferred stock dividends

Payment of common stock dividends

Noncontrolling interest contributions

Noncontrolling interest distributions

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year(1)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year(1)

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

Interest paid, net of amount capitalized

Taxes paid (received)

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:

Change in other comprehensive income

Change in lease classification (direct financing lease to operating lease)

Mortgage receivable accepted in connection with real estate transactions

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

$

1,501,700

$

1,330,200

$

1,262,400

(1,381,200)

(1,330,200)

(1,262,400)

(510)

398,372

(250,000)

(7,837)

256,764

—

(3,836)

(287,500)

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

(9,962)

346,140

—

(3,362)

278,040

345,000

(15,204)

—

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

(2,035)

399,036

(150,000)

(3,654)

332,117

—

(4,198)

—

(19,047)

(16,387)

—

(277,120)

(257,007)

(228,699)

—

(84)

(89,176)

(293,176)

294,540

1,364

103,761

$

$

—

(136)

644,886

280,280

14,260

294,540

91,403

$

$

(15) $

(155) $

5,547

696

$

$

— $

12,161

1,924

$

$

— $

$

$

$

$

$

$

334

(362)

307,105

3,656

10,604

14,260

83,758

234

11,694

1,179

500

(1)  Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash is the aggregate of Cash and cash equivalents and Restricted cash and cash held in escrow from the 

Consolidated Balance Sheets. NNN did not have restricted cash or cash held in escrow at December 31, 2017 and 2016 and had $601 at December 
31, 2015. 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

 46

 
 
 
NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.
and SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Years Ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

Note 1 – Organization and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies:

Organization and Nature of Business – National Retail Properties, Inc., a Maryland corporation, is a fully integrated real 
estate investment trust ("REIT") formed in 1984. The term "NNN" or the "Company" refers to National Retail Properties, 
Inc. and all of its consolidated subsidiaries. NNN has elected to treat certain subsidiaries as taxable REIT subsidiaries. 
These taxable subsidiaries and their majority owned and controlled subsidiaries are collectively referred to as the "TRS." 
At the close of business on December 31, 2015, NNN elected to revoke its election to classify the TRS as taxable REIT 
subsidiaries ("TRS Revocation Election").

NNN's assets primarily include real estate assets. NNN acquires, owns, invests in and develops properties that are leased 
primarily to retail tenants under long-term net leases and are primarily held for investment ("Properties" or "Property 
Portfolio," or individually a "Property"). 

Property Portfolio:

Total properties

Gross leasable area (square feet)

States

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)

December 31, 2017

2,764

29,093,000

48

11.5

NNN's operations are reported within one business segment in the financial statements and all properties are considered 
part of the Properties or Property Portfolio. As such, property counts and calculations involving property counts reflect all 
NNN properties.

Principles of Consolidation – NNN’s consolidated financial statements include the accounts of each of the respective 
majority owned and controlled affiliates, including transactions whereby NNN has been determined to be the primary 
beneficiary in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") guidance included in Consolidation. 
All significant intercompany account balances and transactions have been eliminated. 

NNN consolidates certain joint venture development entities based upon either NNN being the primary beneficiary of the 
respective variable interest entity or NNN having a controlling interest over the respective entity. NNN eliminates 
significant intercompany balances and transactions and records a noncontrolling interest for its other partners’ ownership 
percentage.

Real Estate Portfolio – NNN records the acquisition of real estate at cost, including acquisition and closing costs. The cost 
of properties developed by NNN includes direct and indirect costs of construction, property taxes, interest and other 
miscellaneous costs incurred during the development period until the project is substantially complete and available for 
occupancy. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, NNN recorded $2,435,000, $1,738,000 and 
$2,383,000, respectively, in capitalized interest during development.

Purchase Accounting for Acquisition of Real Estate Subject to a Lease – In accordance with the FASB guidance on 
business combinations, the fair value of the real estate acquired with in-place leases is allocated to the acquired tangible 
assets, consisting of land, building and tenant improvements, and identified intangible assets and liabilities, consisting of 
the value of above-market and below-market leases and the value of in-place leases, as applicable, based on their 
respective fair values. Prior to the adoption of ASU 2017-01, "Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the 
definition of a Business," on January 1, 2017, acquisition and closing costs incurred on the acquisition of real estate with 
an in-place lease were expensed as incurred and recorded as real estate acquisition costs.

The fair value of the tangible assets of an acquired leased property is determined by valuing the property as if it were 
vacant, and the "as-if-vacant" value is then allocated to land, building and tenant improvements based on the determination 
of their fair values.

 47

 
In allocating the fair value of the identified intangible assets and liabilities of an acquired property, above-market and 
below-market in-place lease values are recorded as other assets or liabilities based on the present value (using an interest 
rate which reflects the risks associated with the leases acquired) of the difference between (i) the contractual amounts to be 
paid pursuant to the in-place leases, and (ii) management’s estimate of fair market lease rates for the corresponding in-
place leases, measured over a period equal to the remaining term of the lease and the applicable option terms if it is 
probable that the tenant will
exercise options. The capitalized above-market lease values are amortized as a reduction of rental income over the 
remaining terms of the respective leases. The capitalized below-market lease values are amortized as an increase to rental 
income over the initial term unless the Company believes that it is likely that the tenant will renew the lease for an option 
term whereby the Company amortizes the value attributable to the renewal over the renewal period.

The aggregate value of other acquired intangible assets, consisting of in-place leases, is measured by the excess of (i) the 
purchase price paid for a property after adjusting existing in-place leases to market rental rates over (ii) the estimated fair 
value of the property as-if-vacant, determined as set forth above. The value of in-place leases exclusive of the value of 
above-market and below-market in-place leases is amortized to expense over the remaining non-cancelable periods of the 
respective leases. If a lease were to be terminated prior to its stated expiration, all unamortized amounts relating to that 
lease would be written off in that period. The value of tenant relationships is reviewed on individual transactions to 
determine if future value was derived from the acquisition. 

Intangible assets and liabilities consisted of the following as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Intangible lease assets (included in Other assets):

Above-market in-place leases

Less: accumulated amortization

Above market in-place leases, net

In-place leases

Less: accumulated amortization

In-place leases, net

Intangible lease liabilities (included in Other liabilities):

Below-market in-place leases

Less: accumulated amortization

Below market in-place leases, net

2017

2016

16,583

$

18,352

(9,299)

7,284

$

(8,761)

9,591

104,592

$

112,951

(61,004)

(57,661)

43,588

$

55,290

44,468

$

46,151

(26,055)

(24,051)

18,413

$

22,100

$

$

$

$

$

$

The amounts amortized as a net increase to rental income for capitalized above-market and below-market leases for the 
years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 were $3,355,000, $2,842,000, and $3,046,000, respectively. The value of 
in-place leases amortized to expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016, and 2015 was $18,841,000, 
$13,403,000, and $14,380,000, respectively.

 48

The following is a schedule of the amortization of acquired above-market and below-market in-place lease intangibles and 
the amortization of the in-place lease intangibles at December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

Net Increase
to Rental
Income

Increase To
Amortization
Expense

$

1,412

$

684

609

489

363

8,249

5,976

5,220

4,494

4,024

7,572

15,625

Weighted average amortization period (years)

17.9

9.6

NNN's real estate is generally leased to tenants on a net lease basis, whereby the tenant is responsible for all operating 
expenses relating to the Property, including property taxes, insurance, maintenance, repairs and capital expenditures. The 
leases are accounted for using either the operating or the direct financing method. Such methods are described below:

Operating method – Properties with leases accounted for using the operating method are recorded at the cost of 
the real estate. Revenue is recognized as rentals are earned and expenses (including depreciation) are charged to 
operations as incurred. Buildings and improvements are depreciated on the straight-line method over their 
estimated useful lives. Leasehold interests are amortized on the straight-line method over the terms of their 
respective leases. When scheduled rentals vary during the lease term, income is recognized on a straight-line basis 
so as to produce a constant periodic rent over the term of the lease. Accrued rental income is the aggregate 
difference between the scheduled rents which vary during the lease term and the income recognized on a straight-
line basis.

Direct financing method – Properties with leases accounted for using the direct financing method are recorded at 
their net investment (which at the inception of the lease generally represents the cost of the Property). Unearned 
income is deferred and amortized into income over the lease terms so as to produce a constant periodic rate of 
return on NNN’s net investment in the leases.

Real Estate –  Held For Sale –  Real estate held for sale is not depreciated and is recorded at the lower of cost or fair value, 
less cost to sell.

Impairment – Real Estate – Based upon certain events or changes in circumstances, management periodically assesses its 
Properties for possible impairment whenever the carrying value of the asset, including accrued rental income, may not be 
recoverable through operations. Events or circumstances that may occur include significant changes in real estate market 
conditions and the ability of NNN to re-lease or sell properties that are currently vacant or become vacant in a reasonable 
period of time. Management evaluates whether an impairment in carrying value has occurred by comparing the estimated 
future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest charges), and the residual value of the real estate, with the carrying 
value of the individual asset. If an impairment is indicated, a loss will be recorded for the amount by which the carrying 
value of the asset exceeds its estimated fair value.

Real Estate Dispositions – When real estate is disposed of, the related cost, accumulated depreciation or amortization and 
any accrued rental income for operating leases and the net investment for direct financing leases are removed from the 
accounts, and gains and losses from the dispositions are reflected in income. Gains from the disposition of real estate are 
generally recognized using the full accrual method in accordance with the FASB guidance included in Real Estate Sales, 
provided that various criteria relating to the terms of the sale and any subsequent involvement by NNN with the real estate 
sold are met. 

Valuation of Mortgages, Notes and Accrued Interest Receivable – The reserve allowance related to the mortgages, notes 
and accrued interest receivable is NNN’s best estimate of the amount of probable credit losses. The reserve allowance is 
determined on an individual note basis in reviewing any payment past due for over 90 days. Any outstanding amounts are 
written off against the reserve allowance when all possible means of collection have been exhausted.

 49

Commercial Mortgage Residual Interests, at Fair Value – Commercial mortgage residual interests, classified as available 
for sale, are reported at their estimated market values with unrealized gains and losses reported as other comprehensive 
income in stockholders’ equity. NNN recognizes the excess of all cash flows attributable to the commercial mortgage 
residual interests estimated at the acquisition/transaction date over the initial investment (the accretable yield) as interest 
income over the life of the beneficial interest using the effective yield method. Losses are considered other than temporary 
valuation impairments if and when there has been a change in the timing or amount of estimated cash flows, exclusive of 
changes in interest rates, that leads to a loss in value.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – NNN considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less when 
purchased to be cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and money market accounts. Cash equivalents 
are stated at cost plus accrued interest, which approximates fair value.

Cash accounts maintained on behalf of NNN in demand deposits at commercial banks and money market funds may 
exceed federally insured levels or may be held in accounts without any federal insurance or any other insurance or 
guarantee. However, NNN has not experienced any losses in such accounts.

Restricted Cash and Cash Held in Escrow – Restricted cash and cash held in escrow include (i) cash proceeds from the sale 
of assets held by qualified intermediaries in anticipation of the acquisition of replacement properties in tax-free exchanges 
under Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, (ii) cash that has been placed in escrow for the future funding of 
construction commitments, or (iii) cash that is not immediately available to NNN.  

Valuation of Receivables – NNN estimates the collectibility of its accounts receivable related to rents, expense 
reimbursements and other revenues. NNN analyzes accounts receivable and historical bad debt levels, tenant credit-
worthiness and current economic trends when evaluating the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts. In addition, 
tenants in bankruptcy are analyzed and estimates are made in connection with the expected recovery of pre-petition and 
post-petition claims.

Debt Costs – Line of Credit Payable – Debt costs incurred in connection with NNN’s $900,000,000 line of credit have 
been deferred and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the loan commitment using the straight-line 
method, which approximates the effective interest method. NNN has recorded debt costs associated with the line of credit 
as an asset, in Debt Costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. 

Debt Costs – Mortgages Payable – Debt costs incurred in connection with NNN’s mortgages payable have been deferred 
and are being amortized over the term of the respective loan commitment using the straight-line method, which 
approximates the effective interest method. These costs of $147,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, are included in 
Mortgages Payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of accumulated amortization of $55,000 and $38,000, 
respectively.

Debt Costs – Notes Payable – Debt costs incurred in connection with the issuance of NNN’s notes payable have been 
deferred and are being amortized to interest expense over the term of the respective debt obligation using the effective 
interest method. These costs of $22,682,000 and $21,157,000 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively, are included in 
Notes Payable on the Consolidated Balance Sheets net of accumulated amortization of $6,337,000 and $6,376,000, 
respectively.

Revenue Recognition – Rental revenues for properties under construction commence upon completion of construction of 
the leased asset and delivery of the leased asset to the tenant. Rental revenues for non-development real estate assets are 
recognized when earned in accordance with the FASB guidance included in Leases, based on the terms of the lease of the 
leased asset.  Lease termination fees are recognized when the related leases are cancelled and NNN no longer has a 
continuing involvement with the former tenant with respect to that property.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The core principle of 
ASU 2014-09, is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers 
in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or 
services. Certain contracts are excluded from ASU 2014-09, including lease contracts within the scope of the FASB 
guidance included in Leases (Topic 842). In March 2016, the FASB issued updated guidance. ASU 2016-08, "Revenue 
from Contracts with customers (Topic 606) - Principal versus Agent Considerations (Reporting Gross Versus Net)," 
clarifies the implementation guidance on principal versus agent considerations included within the scope of ASU 2014-09. 
In February 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-05, "Other Income - Gains and Losses from the Derecognition of 
Nonfinancial Assets (Subtopic 610-20)," which clarifies the scope of subtopic 610-20, which was issued as a part of ASU 
2014-09, to add guidance for partial sales of nonfinancial assets. The guidance permits two methods of adoption: full 

 50

retrospective approach to each prior reporting period presented, or modified retrospective approach with the cumulative 
effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application (the cumulative catch-up transition 
method). The guidance was initially effective January 1, 2017, and early adoption was not permitted. The amended 
guidance provides for a one-year deferral of the effective date to January 1, 2018, with an option of applying the standard 
on the original effective date. 

NNN will adopt ASU 2014-09 on January 1, 2018, and apply the cumulative catch-up transition method. Through the 
evaluation and implementation process, NNN has determined the key revenue stream impacted by ASU 2014-09 is gain on 
disposition of real estate reported on the Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income. NNN currently 
recognizes revenue at the time of closing (i.e., transfer of asset). Upon adoption of ASU 2014-09, NNN will need to 
evaluate any separate contracts or performance obligations to determine proper timing of revenue recognition, as well as, 
transaction price allocation. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 will not have a material impact on NNN's financial position or 
results of operations.

Earnings Per Share – Earnings per share have been computed pursuant to the FASB guidance included in Earnings Per 
Share. The guidance requires classification of the Company’s unvested restricted share units which contain rights to 
receive nonforfeitable dividends, as participating securities requiring the two-class method of computing earnings per 
share. Under the two-class method, earnings per common share are computed by dividing the sum of distributed earnings 
to common stockholders and undistributed earnings allocated to common stockholders by the weighted average number of 
common shares outstanding for the period. In applying the two-class method, undistributed earnings are allocated to both 
common shares and participating securities based on the weighted average shares outstanding during the period. The 
following table is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings 
per common share using the two-class method for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Basic and Diluted Earnings:

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Less: Series D preferred stock dividends

Less: Series E preferred stock dividends

Less: Series F preferred stock dividends

Less: Excess of redemption value over carrying value of Series D

preferred shares redeemed

Net earnings attributable to common stockholders

Less: Earnings attributable to unvested restricted shares

Net earnings used in basic and diluted earnings per share

2017

2016

2015

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

197,836

(3,598)

(16,387)

(17,940)

(9,855)

217,193

(531)

(19,047)

(16,387)

(3,189)

—

200,877

(695)

(19,047)

(16,387)

—

—

162,402

(706)

$

216,662

$

200,182

$

161,696

Basic and Diluted Weighted Average Shares Outstanding:

Weighted average number of shares outstanding

Less: Unvested restricted shares

Less: Unvested contingent restricted shares

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in basic earnings per

share

Effects of dilutive securities:

Other

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used in diluted earnings per

share

149,840,116

145,014,422

134,868,640

(285,585)

(443,343)

(390,522)

(447,676)

(412,505)

(457,461)

149,111,188

144,176,224

133,998,674

321,453

484,409

490,742

149,432,641

144,660,633

134,489,416

 51

 
Income Taxes – NNN has made an election to be taxed as a REIT under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and related regulations. NNN generally will not be subject to federal income taxes 
on amounts distributed to stockholders, providing it distributes 100 percent of its REIT taxable income and meets certain 
other requirements for qualifying as a REIT. For each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, NNN 
believes it has qualified as a REIT. Notwithstanding NNN’s qualification for taxation as a REIT, NNN is subject to certain 
state taxes on its income and real estate.

NNN and its taxable REIT subsidiaries have made timely TRS elections pursuant to the provisions of the REIT 
Modernization Act. A taxable REIT subsidiary is able to engage in activities resulting in income that previously would 
have been disqualified from being eligible REIT income under the federal income tax regulations. As a result, certain 
activities of NNN which occur within its TRS entities are subject to federal and state income taxes (See Note 11). All 
provisions for federal income taxes in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are attributable to NNN’s 
taxable REIT subsidiaries and to the Orange Avenue Mortgage Investments, Inc. ("OAMI"), a wholly owned qualified 
REIT subsidiary, built-in gain tax liability.

At the close of business on December 31, 2015, NNN elected to revoke its election to classify the TRS as taxable REIT 
subsidiaries ("TRS Revocation Election"). This TRS Revocation Election resulted in an additional tax expense of 
approximately $9,607,000 for 2015. 

Income taxes are accounted for under the asset and liability method as required by the FASB guidance included in Income 
Taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the temporary differences based on estimated future tax 
consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities 
and their respective tax bases and operating loss and tax credit carryforwards. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are 
measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered 
or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that 
includes the enactment date.

Fair Value Measurement – NNN’s estimates of fair value of financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are based on 
the framework established in the fair value accounting guidance. The framework specifies a hierarchy of valuation inputs 
which was established to increase consistency, clarity and comparability in fair value measurements and related 
disclosures. The guidance describes a fair value hierarchy based upon three levels of inputs that may be used to measure 
fair value, two of which are considered observable and one that is considered unobservable. The following describes the 
three levels:

•  Level 1 – Valuation is based upon quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

•  Level 2 – Valuation is based upon inputs other than Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, 
such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active or other 
inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of 
the assets or liabilities.

•  Level 3 – Valuation is generated from model-based techniques that use at least one significant assumption not 
observable in the market. These unobservable assumptions reflect estimates of assumptions that market 
participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. Valuation techniques include option pricing models, 
discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

 52

 
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) – The following table outlines the changes in accumulated other 
comprehensive income (loss) (dollars in thousands):

Gain or Loss on 
Cash Flow 
Hedges(1)

Gains and
Losses on
Commercial
Mortgage
Residual
Interests

Gains and
Losses on
Available-for-
Sale Securities

Total

Beginning balance, December 31, 2015

$

(25,046)

$

4,454

$

240

$

(20,352)

Other comprehensive income (loss)
Reclassifications from accumulated other
comprehensive income to net earnings
Net current period other comprehensive

income (loss)

Ending balance, December 31, 2016

Other comprehensive income (loss)
Reclassifications from accumulated other
comprehensive income to net earnings
Net current period other comprehensive

income (loss)

13,345

2,802 (2)

16,147

(8,899)

(7,688)

1,932 (2)

(5,756)

Ending balance, December 31, 2017

$

(14,655)

$

(182)

(4,272) (3)

(4,454)

—

—

—

—

—

$

468

—

468

708

209

—

209

917

$

13,631

(1,470)

12,161

(8,191)

(7,479)

1,932

(5,547)

(13,738)

(1)  Additional disclosure is included in Note 12 – Derivatives.
(2)  Reclassifications out of other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded in Interest Expense on the Consolidated Statements of 

Income and Comprehensive Income.  There is no income tax expense (benefit) resulting from this reclassification.

(3) Reclassifications out of other comprehensive income (loss) are recorded in Impairment on the Consolidated Statements of Income 

and Comprehensive Income. There is no income tax expense (benefit) resulting from this reclassification.

New Accounting Pronouncements – In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)," effective for 
fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The FASB issued final 
guidance that requires lessees to put most leases on their balance sheets but recognize expenses in the income statement in 
a manner similar to today’s accounting. The guidance also eliminates current real estate-specific provisions and changes 
the guidance on sale-leaseback transactions, initial direct costs and lease executory costs for all entities. For lessors, the 
standard modifies the classification criteria and the accounting for sales-type and direct financing leases. NNN is currently 
evaluating to determine the potential impact the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will have on its financial position or results of 
operations.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash 
Receipts and Cash Payments," effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within 
those fiscal years. The amendments in this update provide guidance on certain cash flow classification issues. The 
objective of the amendment is to reduce existing diversity in practice in how certain cash receipts and cash payments are 
presented and classified in the statement of cash flows under Topic 230. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 will not impact 
NNN's financial position or results of operations.

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, "Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification 
Accounting," effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 
2017.  The amendments in this update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based 
payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. NNN has early adopted ASU 2017-09 as 
of January 1, 2017. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 did not impact NNN's financial position or results of operations.

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-12, "Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to 
Accounting for Hedging Activities." The purpose of this updated guidance is to better align a company’s financial 
reporting for hedging activities with the economic objectives of those activities. The transition guidance provides 
companies with the option of early adopting the new standard using a modified retrospective transition method in any 
interim period after issuance of the update, or alternatively requires adoption for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 
2018. This adoption method will require a company to recognize the cumulative effect of initially applying the ASU as an 
adjustment to accumulated other comprehensive income with a corresponding adjustment to the opening balance of 

 53

retained earnings as of the beginning of the fiscal year that an entity adopts the update. The adoption of ASU 2017-12 will 
not have a material impact on NNN's financial position or results of operations.

Use of Estimates – Additional critical accounting policies of NNN include management’s estimates and assumptions 
relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, revenues and expenses and the disclosure of contingent assets and 
liabilities to prepare the consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in 
the United States of America. Additional critical accounting policies include management’s estimates of the useful lives 
used in calculating depreciation expense relating to real estate assets, purchase price allocation, the recoverability of the 
carrying value of long-lived assets, including the commercial mortgage residual interests, the recoverability of the deferred 
income taxes, and the collectibility of receivables from tenants, including accrued rental income. Actual results could differ 
from those estimates.

Reclassification – Certain items in the prior year's consolidated financial statements and notes to consolidated financial 
statements have been reclassified to conform to the 2017 presentation.

Note 2 – Real Estate:

Real Estate – Portfolio

Leases – The following outlines key information for NNN’s leases at December 31, 2017:

Lease classification:

Operating

Direct financing

Building portion – direct financing / and portion – operating

Weighted average remaining lease term (years)

2,791

7

2

11.5

The leases generally provide for limited increases in rent as a result of fixed increases, increases in the consumer price 
index, and/or increases in the tenant’s sales volume. Generally, the tenant is also required to pay all property taxes and 
assessments, substantially maintain the Property and carry property and liability insurance coverage. Certain Properties are 
subject to leases under which NNN retains responsibility for specific costs and expenses of the Property. Generally, the 
leases provide the tenant with one or more multi-year renewal options, subject to generally the same terms and conditions 
of the base term of the lease, including rent increases.

Real Estate Portfolio – Accounted for Using the Operating Method – Real estate subject to operating leases consisted of the 
following as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Land and improvements (1)

Buildings and improvements

Leasehold interests

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

Work in progress - improvements

2017

2016

$

2,289,749

$

2,101,923

4,972,233

4,487,509

5,261

7,267,243

(880,235)

6,387,008

41,920

4,565

6,593,997

(739,008)

5,854,989

24,057

$

6,428,928

$

5,879,046

(1)    Includes $25,799 and $30,725 in land for Properties under construction at December 31, 2017 and 2016,

    respectively.

 54

 
Some leases provide for scheduled rent increases throughout the lease term. Such amounts are recognized on a straight-line 
basis over the terms of the leases. For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, NNN recognized $1,411,000, 
($12,000) and $153,000, respectively, of such income, net of reserves. At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the balance of 
accrued rental income was $25,916,000 and $25,101,000, respectively, net of allowance of $1,936,000 and $3,078,000, 
respectively.

The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments to be received on noncancellable operating leases at 
December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

$

574,030

561,799

545,134

524,730

494,183

3,989,805

$

6,689,681

Since lease renewal periods are exercisable at the option of the tenant, the above table only presents future minimum lease 
payments due during the current lease terms. In addition, this table does not include amounts for potential variable rent 
increases that are based on the Consumer Price Index ("CPI") or future contingent rents which may be received on the 
leases based on a percentage of the tenant’s sales volume.

Real Estate Portfolio – Accounted for Using the Direct Financing Method – The following lists the components of net 
investment in direct financing leases at December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Minimum lease payments to be received

Estimated unguaranteed residual values

Less unearned income

Net investment in direct financing leases

2017

2016

9,339

$

4,967

(4,656)

9,650

$

11,200

5,664

(5,634)

11,230

$

$

The following is a schedule of future minimum lease payments to be received on direct financing leases held for 
investment at December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

$

$

1,834

1,512

1,043

720

726

3,504

9,339

The table above does not include future minimum lease payments for renewal periods, potential variable CPI rent increases 
or contingent rental payments that may become due in future periods (see Real Estate Portfolio – Accounted for Using the 
Operating Method).

 55

 
 
 
Real Estate – Held For Sale

On a quarterly basis, the Company evaluates its Properties for held for sale classification based on specific criteria as 
outlined in ASC 360, Property, Plant & Equipment, including management’s intent to commit to a plan to sell the 
asset. NNN anticipates the disposition of Properties classified as held for sale to occur within 12 months. As of 
December 31, 2017, NNN had four of its Properties categorized as held for sale. NNN's real estate held for sale at 
December 31, 2016, included 18 properties, 14 of which were sold in 2017. Real estate held for sale consisted of the 
following as of December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Land and improvements

Building and improvements

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

Less impairment

Real Estate – Dispositions

2017

2016

2,581

$

3,252

5,833

(886)

(864)

4,083

$

15,106

17,185

32,291

(3,459)

(2,748)

26,084

$

$

The following table summarizes the Properties sold and the corresponding gain recognized on the disposition of Properties 
for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Gain on disposition of real estate

48

$ 36,655

38

$ 27,182

19

$ 10,807

2017

2016

2015

# of Sold
Properties

Gain

# of Sold
Properties

Gain

# of Sold
Properties

Gain

Income tax expense

Real Estate – Commitments

—

$ 36,655

—

$ 27,182

(357)

$ 10,450

NNN has committed to fund construction commitments on 27 Properties.  The improvements on such Properties are 
estimated to be completed within 12 months. These construction commitments, at December 31, 2017, are outlined in the 
table below (dollars in thousands):

Total commitment(1)

Amount funded

Remaining commitment

$

129,925

67,719

62,206

(1) 

Includes land, construction costs, tenant improvements, lease costs and capitalized interest.

Real Estate – Impairments

Management periodically assesses its real estate for possible impairment whenever certain events or changes in 
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset, including accrued rental income, may not be recoverable 
through operations. Events or circumstances that may occur include significant changes in real estate market conditions 
and the ability of NNN to re-lease or sell properties that are vacant or become vacant in a reasonable period of time. 
Impairments are measured as the amount by which the current book value of the asset exceeds the estimated fair value of 
the asset. As a result of the Company’s review of long lived assets, including identifiable intangible assets, NNN 
recognized real estate impairments, net of recoveries of $4,953,000, $8,025,000 and $3,970,000 for the years ended 
December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively.

The valuation of impaired assets is determined using widely accepted valuation techniques including discounted cash flow 
analysis, income capitalization, analysis of recent comparable sales transactions, actual sales negotiations and bona fide 
purchase offers received from third parties, which are Level 3 inputs. NNN may consider a single valuation technique or 
multiple valuation techniques, as appropriate, when estimating the fair value of its real estate.

 56

 
Note 3 – Commercial Mortgage Residual Interests:

As of December 31, 2015, NNN held the commercial mortgage residual interests (“Residuals”) from seven loan 
securitizations.  In 2016, the loan servicer of five of the securitizations exercised its clean-up call option. These clean-up 
calls allowed the servicers to purchase all of the trusts’ assets, thereby terminating future cash distributions payable to NNN 
as the holder of these residual interests. During the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, NNN recorded an other than 
temporary valuation impairment of $6,830,000 and $531,000, respectively, as a reduction of earnings from operations.  The 
other than temporary valuation impairment recorded during the year ended December 31, 2016 related to the execution of 
the clean-up call option on the five securitizations, as well as the fair value adjustment on the remaining two 
securitizations. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the remaining two Residuals are recorded at a fair value of $36,000 
and included in Other Assets on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There was no other than temporary valuation impairment 
recorded during the year ended December 31, 2017.

Note 4 – Line of Credit Payable:

In October 2017, NNN amended its credit agreement to increase the borrowing capacity under its unsecured revolving 
credit facility from $650,000,000 to $900,000,000 and amend certain other terms under the former revolving credit facility 
(as the context requires, the previous and new revolving credit facility, the "Credit Facility"). The Credit Facility had a 
weighted average outstanding balance of $98,277,000 and a weighted average interest rate of 2.2% for the year ended 
December 31, 2017. The Credit Facility matures January 2022, unless the Company exercises its option to extend maturity 
to January 2023. As of December 31, 2017, the Credit Facility bears interest at LIBOR plus 87.5 basis points; however, 
such interest rate may change pursuant to a tiered interest rate structure based on NNN's debt rating.  The Credit Facility 
also includes an accordion feature to increase the facility size up to $1,600,000,000. As of December 31, 2017, there was a 
balance of $120,500,000 and $779,500,000 was available for future borrowings under the Credit Facility, excluding 
undrawn letters of credit totaling $230,000.

In accordance with the terms of the Credit Facility, NNN is required to meet certain restrictive financial covenants which, 
among other things, require NNN to maintain certain (i) leverage ratios, (ii) debt service coverage, (iii) cash flow coverage, 
and (iv) investment and dividend limitations. At December 31, 2017, NNN was in compliance with those covenants.

Note 5 – Mortgages Payable:

The following table outlines the mortgages payable included in NNN’s consolidated financial statements (dollars in 
thousands):

Initial
Balance

Interest
Rate

Maturity(2)

Carrying
Value of
Encumbered
Asset(s)(3)

Outstanding Principal
Balance at December 31,

2017

2016

15,151

5.23% July 2023

$

20,917

$

13,392

$

13,987

Entered(1)
November 2014(4)

Debt costs

Accumulated amortization

Debt costs, net of accumulated amortization

Mortgages payable, including unamortized premium and net of

unamortized debt costs

(147)

55

(92)

(147)

38

(109)

$

13,300

$

13,878

(1)  Date entered represents the date that NNN acquired real estate subject to a mortgage securing a loan.
(2)  Monthly payments include interest and principal; the balance is due at maturity.
(3)  Each loan is secured by a first mortgage lien on five of the Properties. The carrying values of the assets at December 31, 

2017.

(4) 

Initial balance and outstanding principal balance includes unamortized premium.

 57

 
The following is a schedule of the scheduled principal payments, including premium amortization of NNN’s mortgages 
payable at December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands):

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

Thereafter

$

623

652

682

716

750

9,969

$ 13,392

Note 6 – Notes Payable:

Each of NNN’s outstanding series of unsecured notes is summarized in the table below (dollars in thousands):

Notes

Issue Date

Principal

Discount(1)

Net
Price

Stated
Rate

Effective
Rate(2)

Maturity
Date

2021(3)

2022
2023(4)
2024(5)
2025(6)
2026(7)
2027(8)

July 2011

August 2012

April 2013

May 2014

October 2015

December 2016

September 2017

$ 300,000

$

4,269

$ 295,731

5.500%

5.689%

July 2021

325,000

350,000

350,000

400,000

350,000

400,000

4,989

2,594

707

964

3,860

1,628

320,011

3.800%

3.985%

October 2022

347,406

3.300%

3.388%

April 2023

349,293

3.900%

3.924%

June 2024

399,036

4.000%

4.029%

November 2025

346,140

3.600%

3.733%

December 2026

398,372

3.500%

3.548%

October 2027

(1)  The note discounts are amortized to interest expense over the respective term of each debt obligation using the effective interest 

method.

(2) 

Includes the effects of the discount at issuance.

(3)  NNN entered into two interest rate hedges with a total notional amount of $150,000.  Upon issuance of the 2021 Notes, NNN 

terminated the interest rate hedge agreements resulting in a liability of $5,300, of which $5,218 was deferred in other 
comprehensive income.  The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.
(4)  NNN entered into four forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $240,000.  Upon issuance of the 2023 Notes, 
NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $3,156, of which $3,141 was deferred in other comprehensive 
income.  The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method. 

(5)  NNN entered into three forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $225,000.  Upon issuance of the 2024 Notes, 
NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $6,312, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  
The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(6)  NNN entered into four forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $300,000.  Upon issuance of the 2025 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $13,369, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  
The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(7)  NNN entered into two forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $180,000.  Upon issuance of the 2026 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a gain of $13,345, which was deferred in other comprehensive income.  The 
deferred asset is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method.

(8)  NNN entered into two forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of $250,000. Upon issuance of the 2027 Notes, 

NNN terminated the forward starting swaps resulting in a liability of $7,690, of which $7,688 was deferred in other comprehensive 
income. The deferred liability is being amortized over the term of the notes using the effective interest method. 

Each series of the notes represents senior, unsecured obligations of NNN and is subordinated to all secured indebtedness of 
NNN. Each of the notes is redeemable at the option of NNN, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to the sum of 
(i) the principal amount of the notes being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon through the redemption date 
and (ii) the make-whole amount, if any, as defined in the applicable supplemental indenture relating to the notes.

 58

 
 
In connection with the outstanding debt offerings, NNN incurred debt issuance costs totaling $22,682,000 consisting 
primarily of underwriting discounts and commissions, legal and accounting fees, rating agency fees and printing expenses. 
Debt issuance costs for all note issuances have been deferred and are being amortized over the term of the respective notes 
using the effective interest method.

In October 2017, NNN repaid the $250,000,000 6.875% notes payable that were due in October 2017.

In accordance with the terms of the indenture, pursuant to which NNN’s notes have been issued, NNN is required to meet 
certain restrictive financial covenants, which, among other things, require NNN to maintain (i) certain leverage ratios and 
(ii) certain interest coverage. At December 31, 2017, NNN was in compliance with those covenants.

Note 7 – Preferred Stock:

NNN completed the following underwritten public offerings of cumulative redeemable preferred stock and are still 
outstanding ("Preferred Stock Shares") (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

Series

Series E

Series F

Dividend 
Rate(1)
5.700% May 2013

Issued

Depositary 
Shares 
Outstanding(2)
11,500,000

Gross
Proceeds

Stock 
Issuance 
Costs(3)

$ 287,500

$

9,856

Earliest
Dividend Per
Redemption
Depositary
Share
Date
1.425000 May 2018

$

5.200% October 2016

13,800,000

345,000

10,897

1.300000 October 2021

(1)  Holders are entitled to receive, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors, cumulative preferential cash dividends.
(2)  Representing 1/100th of a preferred share. Series E issuance included 1,500,000 depositary shares in connection with the 

underwriters' over-allotment. Series F issuance included 1,800,000 depositary shares in connection with the underwriters' over-
allotment.

(3)  Consisting primarily of underwriting commissions and fees, rating agency fees, legal and accounting fees and printing 

expenses.

The Preferred Stock Shares underlying the depositary shares rank senior to NNN’s common stock with respect to dividend 
rights and rights upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of NNN. The Preferred Stock Shares have no maturity date 
and will remain outstanding unless redeemed. In addition, upon a change of control, as defined in the articles 
supplementary fixing the rights and preferences of the Preferred Stock Shares, NNN may redeem the Preferred Stock 
Shares underlying the depositary shares at a redemption price of $2,500.00 per share (or $25.00 per depositary share), plus 
all accumulated and unpaid dividends, and in limited circumstances the holders of depositary shares may convert some or 
all of their Preferred Stock Shares into shares of NNN's common stock at conversion rates provided in the related articles 
supplementary. As of February 13, 2018, the Series E and Series F Preferred Stock Shares were not redeemable or 
convertible.

In February 2017, NNN redeemed all outstanding depositary shares (11,500,000) representing interests in its 6.625% Series 
D Preferred Stock. The Series D Preferred Stock was redeemed at $25.00 per depositary share, plus all accrued and unpaid 
dividends through the redemption date, for an aggregate redemption price of $25.3128472 per depositary share. The excess 
carrying amount of preferred stock redeemed over the cash paid to redeem the preferred stock was $9,855,000 of issuance 
costs.

 59

Note 8 – Common Stock:

In February 2015, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the Commission which permits the issuance by NNN of an 
indeterminate amount of debt and equity securities.

Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan.  In February 2015, NNN filed a shelf registration statement with the 
Commission for its Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan ("DRIP") which permits the issuance by NNN of 
16,000,000 shares of common stock. The following outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to the DRIP for the year 
ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Shares of common stock

Net proceeds

2017

2016

2015

229,696

187,626

$

9,391

$

8,340

$

196,584

7,182

At The Market Offerings.   NNN has established an at-the-market equity program ("ATM") which allows NNN to sell 
shares of common stock from time to time. The following outlines NNN's ATM programs:

Established date

Termination date

Total allowable shares

Total shares issued as of December 31, 2017

2016 ATM

2015 ATM

2013 ATM

March 2016

February 2015

March 2013

March 2019

March 2016

February 2015

12,000,000

10,044,656

10,000,000

9,852,465

9,000,000

6,252,812

The following table outlines the common stock issuances pursuant to NNN's ATM equity program (dollars in thousands, 
except per share data):

Shares of common stock

Average price per share (net)

Year Ended December 31,

2017

2016

2015

5,821,366

5,716,222

8,573,533

$

41.88

$

46.48

$

37.45

Net proceeds
Stock issuance costs(1)
      (1)    Stock issuance costs consist primarily of underwriters' fees and commissions, and legal and accounting fees.

243,822

265,696

4,266

3,782

$

$

$

$

$

$

321,067

4,016

Note 9 – Employee Benefit Plan:

Effective January 1, 1998, NNN adopted a defined contribution retirement plan (the “Retirement Plan”) covering 
substantially all of the employees of NNN. The Retirement Plan permits participants to defer a portion of their 
compensation, as defined in the Retirement Plan, subject to limits established by the Code. NNN generally matches 60 
percent of the first eight percent of a participant’s contributions. Additionally, NNN may make discretionary contributions. 
NNN’s contributions to the Retirement Plan for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 totaled $514,000, 
$491,000 and $474,000, respectively.

Note 10 – Dividends:

The following table outlines the dividends declared and paid for NNN's common stock for the years ended December 31 
(in thousands, except per share data):

Dividends
Per share

2017

2016

2015

$

277,120
1.860

$

257,007
1.780

$

228,699
1.710

 60

 
On January 16, 2018, NNN declared a dividend of $0.475 per share, payable February 15, 2018, to its common 
stockholders of record as of January 31, 2018.

The following presents the characterization for tax purposes of common stock dividends per share paid to stockholders for 
the years ended December 31:

Ordinary dividends

Qualified dividends

Capital gain

Unrecaptured Section 1250 Gain

Nontaxable distributions

2017

2016

2015

$

1.559781

$

1.513705

$

1.363294

—

0.035041

0.012194

0.252984

—

—

—

0.266295

0.019005

0.007806

0.011055

0.308840

$

1.860000

$

1.780000

$

1.710000

The following presents the characterization for tax purposes of Series D, E and F Preferred Stock dividends per share and 
dividends declared and paid to stockholders for the year ended December 31:

Series F(3)

Series E(2)

Series D(1)

2017

2016

2017

2016

2015

2017

2016

2015

$ 1.261789

$ 0.231111

$ 1.383115

$ 1.425000

$ 1.385670

$ 0.303652

$ 1.656250

$ 1.610538

Ordinary dividends

Qualified dividends

Capital gain

Unrecaptured

—

0.028345

—

—

—

—

0.031071

0.010814

—

—

—

0.020141

—

0.007937

0.006821

0.011252

0.002374

—

—

—

0.023409

0.009225

0.013078

$ 0.231111

$ 1.425000

$ 1.425000

$ 1.425000

$ 0.312847

$ 1.656250

$ 1.656250

Section 1250 Gain

0.009866
Dividend paid per share $ 1.300000

Dividends declared and

paid

$

17,940

$

3,189

$

16,387

$

16,387

$

16,387

$

3,598

$

19,047

$

19,047

(1)    The Series D Preferred Stock was redeemed in February 2017. The dividends paid in 2017 include accumulated and unpaid dividends 

through the redemption date.

(2)    The Series E Preferred Stock has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed by NNN. The earliest redemption 

date for the Series E Preferred Stock is May 2018. 

(3)    The Series F Preferred Stock was issued in October 2016 and has no maturity date and will remain outstanding unless redeemed by 

NNN. The earliest redemption date for the Series F Preferred Stock is October 2021.

Note 11 – Income Taxes:

For income tax purposes, NNN had taxable REIT subsidiaries in which certain real estate activities were conducted.

NNN treats some depreciation expense and certain other items differently for tax than for financial reporting purposes. The 
principal differences between NNN’s effective tax rates for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, and the 
statutory rates relate to state taxes and nondeductible expenses.

At the close of business on December 31, 2015, NNN elected to revoke its election to classify the TRS as taxable REIT 
subsidiaries. This TRS Revocation Election resulted in an additional tax expense of approximately $9,607,000 for 2015. 

 61

 
The significant components of the net deferred income tax asset consist of the following at December 31 (dollars in 
thousands):

Deferred tax assets:

Capital loss carryforward

Net operating loss carryforward

Valuation allowance

Total deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities:

Built-in gain

Total deferred tax liabilities

Net deferred tax asset

2017

2016

$

— $

3,899

3,899

(3,858)

41

830

5,088

5,918

(5,743)

175

(41)

(41)

(175)

(175)

$

— $

—

In assessing the ability to realize a deferred tax asset, management considers whether it is more likely than not that some 
portion or the entire deferred tax asset will not be realized. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon 
the generation of future taxable income during the periods in which those temporary differences become deductible. 
Management considers the scheduled reversal of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, and tax planning 
strategies in making this assessment. The net operating loss carryforwards were generated by NNN’s taxable REIT 
subsidiaries. The net operating loss carryforwards begin to expire in 2028. Due to the revocation of the TRS election, 
management believes it is unlikely that NNN will realize all of the benefits of these deductible differences that existed as of 
December 31, 2017 and 2016.

The decrease in the valuation allowance for the year ended December 31, 2017, was $1,885,000. The increase in the 
valuation allowance for the years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015, was $77,000 and $5,047,000, respectively. 

The income tax benefit (expense) consists of the following components for the years ended December 31 (dollars in 
thousands):

Net earnings before income taxes

Provision for income tax benefit (expense):

Current:

Federal

State and local

Deferred:

Federal

State and local

Total expense for income taxes

2017

2016

2015

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

208,511

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

(58)

(129)

(8,935)

(1,553)

(10,675)

Net earnings attributable to NNN’s stockholders

$

264,973

$

239,500

$

197,836

 62

 
The total income tax benefit (expense) differs from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal tax rate to net 
earnings before taxes as follows for the years ended December 31 (dollars in thousands):

Federal expense at statutory tax rate

Nontaxable income of NNN

State taxes, net of federal benefit

Expiration of built-in gain tax
Loss carryforwards increase (decrease) (2)
Built-in gain tax liability (1), (2)
TRS Revocation Election (1)
Valuation allowance (increase) decrease (1), (2)

2017

2016

2015

$

— $

— $

(70,894)

—

—

—

(2,019)

134

—

1,885

—

—

—

55

22

—

(77)

69,651

(141)

316

—

(197)

(4,363)

(5,047)

Total tax expense

$

— $

— $

(10,675)

(1)   The change for the year ended December 31, 2015, is due to TRS Revocation Election.
(2)  The change for the year ended December 31, 2017, includes an amount attributable to the federal tax rate change 
within the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act signed into law on December 22, 2017. The net income statement effect of the 

federal rate change is zero.

FASB prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and 
measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FASB also provides guidance on derecognition, 
classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition.

NNN, in accordance with FASB guidance included in Income Taxes, has analyzed its various federal and state filing 
positions. NNN believes that its income tax filing positions and deductions are well documented and supported. 
Additionally, NNN believes that its accruals for tax liabilities are adequate. Therefore, no reserves for uncertain income tax 
positions have been recorded pursuant to the FASB guidance. In addition, NNN did not record a cumulative effect 
adjustment related to the adoption of the FASB guidance.

NNN has had no unrecognized tax benefits during any of the years presented. Further, no interest or penalties have been 
included since no reserves were recorded and no significant increases or decreases are expected to occur within the next 12 
months. When applicable, such interest and penalties will be recorded in non-operating expenses. The periods that remain 
open under federal statute are 2014 through 2017. NNN also files in many states with varying open years under statute.

Note 12 – Derivatives:

In accordance with the guidance on derivatives and hedging, NNN records all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair 
value. The accounting for changes in the fair value of derivatives depends on the intended use of the derivative and the 
resulting designation. Derivatives used to hedge the exposure to changes in the fair value of an asset, liability, or firm 
commitment attributable to a particular risk, such as interest rate risk, are considered fair value hedges. Derivatives used to 
hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows, or other types of forecasted transactions, are considered 
cash flow hedges.

NNN’s objective in using derivatives is to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate 
movements or other identified risks. To accomplish this objective, NNN primarily uses treasury locks, forward swaps and 
interest rate swaps as part of its cash flow hedging strategy. Treasury locks and forward starting swaps are used to hedge 
forecasted debt issuances. Treasury locks designated as cash flow hedges lock in the yield/price of a treasury security. 
Forward swaps also lock the associated swap spread. Interest rate swaps designated as cash flow hedges are used to hedge 
the variable cash flows associated with floating rate debt and involve the receipt or payment of variable rate amounts in 
exchange for fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying principal amount.

For derivatives designated as cash flow hedges, the effective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is 
initially reported in other comprehensive income (outside of earnings) and subsequently reclassified to earnings when the 
hedged transaction affects earnings, and the ineffective portion of changes in the fair value of the derivative is recognized 
directly in earnings.

 63

NNN discontinues hedge accounting prospectively when it is determined that the derivative is no longer effective in 
offsetting changes in the cash flows of the hedged item, the derivative expires or is sold, terminated, or exercised, the 
derivative is re-designated as a hedging instrument or management determines that designation of the derivative as a 
hedging instrument is no longer appropriate.  

When hedge accounting is discontinued, NNN recognizes any changes in its fair value in earnings and continues to carry 
the derivative on the balance sheet or may choose to settle the derivative at that time with a cash payment or receipt.

The following table outlines NNN's derivatives which were hedging the risk of changes in forecasted interest payments on 
forecasted issuance of long-term debt (dollars in thousands):

Terminated

Description

Aggregate
Notional
Amount

Liability (Asset)
Fair Value
When
Terminated

Fair Value 
Deferred In Other 
Comprehensive 
Income(1)

June 2011

April 2013

May 2014

October 2015

December 2016

September 2017

Two treasury locks

$

150,000 $

5,300 $

Four forward starting swaps

Three forward starting swaps

Four forward starting swaps

Two forward starting swaps

Two forward starting swaps

240,000

225,000

300,000

180,000

250,000

3,156

6,312

13,369

(13,352)

7,690

5,218

3,141

6,312

13,369

(13,345)

7,688

(1)   The amount reported in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified to interest expense as interest 

payments are made on the related notes payable.

As of December 31, 2017, $14,655,000 remains in other comprehensive income related to the effective portion of NNN’s 
previously interest rate hedges. During the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, NNN reclassified $1,932,000, 
$2,802,000 and $1,902,000, respectively, out of other comprehensive income as an increase to interest expense. Over the 
next 12 months, NNN estimates that an additional $2,139,000 will be reclassified as an increase in interest expense. 
Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest 
expense as interest payments are made on NNN’s long-term debt.

NNN does not use derivatives for trading or speculative purposes or currently have any derivatives that are not designated 
as hedges. NNN had no derivative financial instruments outstanding at December 31, 2017.

Note 13 – Performance Incentive Plan:

In May 2017, NNN filed a registration statement on Form S-8 with the Commission which permits the issuance of up to 
1,800,000 shares of common stock pursuant to NNN’s 2017 Performance Incentive Plan (the “2017 Plan”). The 2017 Plan 
replaced NNN’s previous 2007 Performance Incentive Plan. The 2017 Plan allows NNN to award or grant to key 
employees, directors and persons performing consulting or advisory services for NNN or its affiliates, stock options, stock 
awards, stock appreciation rights, Phantom Stock Awards, Performance Awards and Leveraged Stock Purchase Awards, 
each as defined in the 2017 Plan.

There were no stock options outstanding or exercisable at December 31, 2017.

 64

Pursuant to the 2017 Plan, NNN has granted and issued shares of restricted stock to certain officers and key associates of 
NNN. The following summarizes the restricted stock activity for the year ended December 31, 2017:

Non-vested restricted shares, January 1

Restricted shares granted

Restricted shares vested

Restricted shares forfeited

Restricted shares repurchased

Non-vested restricted shares, December 31

Number
of
Shares

Weighted
Average
Share Price

871,718

$

292,968

(410,497)

(11,356)

(7,510)

735,323

38.88

43.61

35.80

33.42

30.80

42.65

Compensation expense for the restricted stock which is not contingent upon NNN’s performance goals is determined based 
upon the fair value at the date of grant and is recognized as the greater of the amount amortized over a straight lined basis 
or the amount vested over the vesting periods. Vesting periods for officers and key associates of NNN range from three to 
five years and generally vest annually. NNN recognizes compensation expense on a straight-line basis for awards with only 
service conditions.

During the years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, NNN granted 169,495 and 142,199, respectively, performance based 
shares subject to its total stockholder return after a three year period relative to its peers. The shares were granted to certain 
executive officers and had weighted average grant price of $43.73 and $44.70, respectively, per share. Once the 
performance criteria are met and the actual number of shares earned is determined, the shares vest immediately. For the 
2017 and 2016 grants, the conditions are based on market conditions, and the fair value was determined at the grant date 
(for a fair value share price of $25.77 and $34.60, respectively). Compensation expense is recognized over the requisite 
service period for both grants.

The following summarizes other grants made during the year ended December 31, 2017, pursuant to the 2017 Plan.

Other share grants under the 2017 Plan:

Directors’ fees

Deferred directors’ fees

Shares available under the 2017 Plan for grant, end of period

Weighted
Average
  Share Price  

Shares

14,007

$

21,329

35,336

1,733,296

40.09

40.31

40.22

The total compensation expense for share-based payments for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 totaled 
$12,971,000, $10,758,000 and $9,671,000, respectively. At December 31, 2017, NNN had $10,542,000 of unrecognized 
compensation cost related to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements under the 2017 Plan. This cost is 
expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 2.4 years. In addition, NNN recognized no performance based 
long-term incentive cash compensation expense for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015.

Note 14 – Fair Value of Financial Instruments:

NNN believes the carrying value of its Credit Facility approximates fair value based upon its nature, terms and variable 
interest rate. NNN believes that the carrying value of its mortgages and notes receivable and mortgages payable at 
December 31, 2017 and 2016, approximate fair value based upon current market prices of comparable instruments (Level 
3). At December 31, 2017 and 2016, the carrying value and fair value of NNN’s notes payable net of unamortized discount 
and excluding debt costs, was $2,507,106,000 and $2,367,102,000, respectively, based upon quoted market prices, which is 
a Level 1 valuation since NNN's notes payable are publicly traded.

 65

Note 15 – Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited):

The following table outlines NNN’s quarterly financial data (dollars in thousands, except per share data):

2017
Revenues as originally reported

Net earnings

Net earnings attributable to NNN
Net earnings per share(1):

Basic

Diluted

2016
Revenues as originally reported

Net earnings

Net earnings attributable to NNN

Net earnings per share(1):

Basic

Diluted

First
Quarter

Second
Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

$

141,569

$

145,587

$

147,769

$

150,330

73,648

73,657

58,409

58,028

61,129

61,120

$

0.35

$

0.35

0.33

$

0.33

0.35

$

0.35

72,185

72,168

0.42

0.42

$

126,999

$

130,998

$

134,558

$

141,261

70,676

70,683

51,933

51,942

50,772

50,784

$

0.44

$

0.44

0.30

$

0.30

0.29

$

0.28

66,126

66,092

0.37

0.37

(1)  Calculated independently for each period and consequently, the sum of the quarters may differ from the annual amount.

Note 16 – Segment Information:

For the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015, NNN’s operations are reported within one business segment in the 
consolidated financial statements and all properties are part of the Properties or Property Portfolio. 

Note 17 – Major Tenants:

As of December 31, 2017, NNN had no tenants that accounted for ten percent or more of its rental and earned income.

Note 18 – Commitments and Contingencies:

A summary of NNN's commitments are included in Note 2 – Real Estate.

In the ordinary course of its business, NNN is a party to various other legal actions which management believes are routine 
in nature and incidental to the operation of the business of NNN. Management does not believe that any of these 
proceedings are material to NNN's consolidated financial statements.

Note 19 – Subsequent Events:

NNN reviewed all subsequent events and transactions that have occurred after December 31, 2017, the date of the 
consolidated balance sheet. 

In February 2018, the Company entered into two forward starting swaps with an aggregate notional amount of 
$250,000,000 to hedge the risk of changes in the interest-related cash outflows associated with the potential issuance of 
long-term debt. The outstanding forward starting swaps were each designated as a cash flow hedge.

There were no other reportable subsequent events or transactions.

 66

 
 
 
 
Item 9.  Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

None.

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures

Process for Assessment and Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financing 
Reporting.

NNN carried out an assessment as of December 31, 2017, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure 
controls and procedures and its internal control over financial reporting. This assessment was done under the supervision 
and with the participation of management, including NNN’s Chief Executive Officer,  Chief Financial Officer and Chief 
Accounting Officer. Rules adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) require NNN to 
present the conclusions of the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer about the 
effectiveness of NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and the conclusions of NNN’s management about the 
effectiveness of NNN’s internal control over financial reporting as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.

CEO and CFO Certifications.  Included as Exhibits 31.1 and 31.2 to this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forms of 
“Certification” of NNN’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer. The forms of Certification are required in 
accordance with Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. This section of the Annual Report on Form 10-K that 
stockholders are currently reading is the information concerning the assessment referred to in the Section 302 certifications 
and this information should be read in conjunction with the Section 302 certifications for a more complete understanding of 
the topics presented.

Disclosure Controls and Procedures and Internal Control over Financial Reporting.  Disclosure controls and procedures 
are designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in NNN’s 
reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act, such as this Annual Report on Form 10-K, is recorded, processed, 
summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and 
procedures are also designed with the objective of providing reasonable assurance that such information is accumulated 
and communicated to NNN’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief 
Accounting Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

Internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, NNN’s Chief Executive 
Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, and affected by NNN’s Board of Directors, management 
and other personnel, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of 
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) and 
includes those policies and procedures that:

• 

• 

• 

pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the 
transactions and dispositions of NNN’s assets;

provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of 
financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that NNN’s 
receipts and expenditures are being made in accordance with authorizations of management or the Board 
of Directors; and

provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or 
disposition of NNN’s assets that could have a material adverse effect on NNN’s financial statements.

Scope of the Assessments.  The assessment by NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief 
Accounting Officer of NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and the assessment by NNN’s management, including 
NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, of NNN’s internal control over 
financial reporting included a review of procedures and discussions with NNN’s management and others at NNN. In the 
course of the assessments, NNN sought to identify data errors, control problems or acts of fraud and to confirm that 
appropriate corrective action, including process improvements, were being undertaken.

NNN’s internal control over financial reporting is also assessed on an ongoing basis by personnel in NNN’s Accounting 
department and by NNN’s internal auditors in connection with their internal audit activities. The overall goals of these 
various assessment activities are to monitor NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures and NNN’s internal control over 

 67

financial reporting and to make modifications as necessary. NNN’s intent in this regard is that the disclosure controls and 
procedures and the internal control over financial reporting will be maintained and updated (including with improvements 
and corrections) as conditions warrant. Management also sought to deal with other control matters in the assessment, and in 
each case if a problem was identified, management considered what revision, improvement and/or correction was 
necessary to be made in accordance with NNN’s on-going procedures. The assessments of NNN’s disclosure controls and 
procedures and NNN’s internal control over financial reporting is done on a quarterly basis so that the conclusions 
concerning effectiveness of those controls can be reported in NNN’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Annual Report 
on Form 10-K.

Assessment of Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures.

Based upon the assessments, NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer have 
concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

Management, including NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, are 
responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting for NNN. Management used 
the criteria issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control – 2013 
Integrated Framework to assess the effectiveness of NNN’s internal control over financial reporting. Based upon the 
assessments, NNN’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of December 31, 2017, 
NNN’s internal control over financial reporting was effective.

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm.

Ernst & Young LLP, NNN’s independent registered public accounting firm, audited the financial statements included in this 
Annual Report on Form 10-K and in connection therewith has issued an attestation report on NNN’s effectiveness of 
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, which appears in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting.

During the three months ended December 31, 2017, there were no changes in NNN’s internal control over financial 
reporting that materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, NNN’s internal control over financial 
reporting.

Limitations on the Effectiveness of Controls.

Management, including NNN’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer, do not 
expect that NNN’s disclosure controls and procedures or NNN’s internal control over financial reporting will prevent all 
errors and all fraud. A control system, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not 
absolute, assurance that the objectives of the control system are met. Further, the design of a control system must reflect the 
fact that there are resource constraints, and the benefits of controls must be considered relative to their costs. Because of 
the inherent limitations in all control systems, no evaluation of controls can provide absolute assurance that all control 
issues and instances of fraud, if any, within NNN have been detected. These inherent limitations include the realities that 
judgments in decision-making can be faulty, and that breakdowns can occur because of simple error or mistake. 
Additionally, controls can be circumvented by the individual acts of some persons, by collusion of two or more people, or 
by management’s override of the control. The design of any system of controls also is based in part upon certain 
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed in achieving 
its stated goals under all potential future conditions; over time, controls may become inadequate because of changes in 
conditions, or the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. Because of the inherent limitations 
in a cost-effective control system, misstatements due to error or fraud may occur and not be detected.

Item 9B.  Other Information

None.

 68

PART III

Item 10.  Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance

Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 
14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without 
limitation, contained in the sections thereof captioned “Proposal I: Election of Directors – Nominees,” “Proposal I: 
Election of Directors – Executive Officers,” “Proposal I: Election of Directors – Code of Business Conduct and Insider 
Trading Policy” and “Security Ownership ”, and such information in such sections is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 11.  Executive Compensation

Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 
14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without 
limitation, contained in the sections thereof captioned “Proposal I: Election of Directors – Director Compensation,” 
“Executive Compensation” and “Compensation Committee Report”, and such information is incorporated herein by 
reference.

Item 12.  Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters

Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 
14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without 
limitation, contained in the section thereof captioned “Security Ownership”, and such information is incorporated herein by 
reference.

Item 13.  Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence

Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 
14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without 
limitation, contained in the section thereof captioned “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” and such 
information is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 14.  Principal Accountant Fees and Services

Reference is made to the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Regulation 
14(a); information responsive to this Item is included in the Registrant's proxy statement including the information, without 
limitation, contained in the section thereof captioned “Audit Committee Report” and “Proposal III: Ratification of Ernst & 
Young LLP as the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm”, and such information is incorporated herein by 
reference.

 69

PART IV

Item 15. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a)

The following documents are filed as part of this report

(1) Financial Statements

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016

Consolidated Statements of Income and Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2017, 
2016 and 2015

Consolidated Statements of Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

(2) Financial Statement Schedules

Schedule III – Real Estate and Accumulated Depreciation and Amortization and Notes as of
December 31, 2017

Schedule IV – Mortgage Loans on Real Estate and Notes as of December 31, 2017

All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or because the required information is
shown in the financial statements or the notes thereto.

(3) Exhibits

The following exhibits are filed as a part of this report.

3.

Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws

37

39

40

42

45

47

3.1

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

First Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended (filed as Exhibit 
3.1 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on August 3, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).

Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of 6.625% Series D 
Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, dated February 21, 2012 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 
to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 23, 2012, incorporated herein by 
reference).

Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of 5.70% Series E 
Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, dated May 29, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to 
the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated May 30, 2013, incorporated herein by 
reference).

Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of 5.20% Series F 
Cumulative Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share, dated October 7, 2016 (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to 
the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated October 11, 2016, incorporated herein by 
reference).

Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated May 1, 2006, as amended (filed as 
Exhibit 3.4 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on February 19, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference).

Second Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated December 
13, 2007 (filed as Exhibit 3.5 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference).

Third Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant, dated February 13, 
2014 (filed as Exhibit 3.6 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference).

 70

 
  
4.

Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

4.1

4.11

4.12

4.13

4.14

Specimen Certificate of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit
3.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 1-11290 on Form 8-B filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission and incorporated herein by reference).

Indenture, dated as of March 25, 1998, between the Registrant and First Union National Bank, as 
trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 
333-132095) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 28, 2006, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Specimen certificate representing the 6.625% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par 
value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement 
on Form 8-A dated February 22, 2012 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
February 22, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).

Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as 
Depositary, and the holders of depositary receipts (filed as Exhibit 4.20 to the Registrant’s Quarterly 
Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Tenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 5.500% Notes due 2021 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2011, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 5.500% Notes due 2021 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 6, 2011, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

Form of Eleventh Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 3.800% Notes due 2022 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2012 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 3.800% Notes due 2022 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2012 and incorporated herein by 
reference).

Form of Twelfth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 3.300% Notes due 2023 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K dated April 9, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on 
April 15, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 3.300% Notes due 2022 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
dated April 9, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 15, 2013 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Specimen certificate representing the 5.70% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par 
value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement 
on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 2013 and incorporated 
herein by reference).

Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as 
Depositary, and the holders of depositary receipts (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s 
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 30, 
2013 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 3.900% Notes due 2024 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2014, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 3.900% Notes due 2024 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 2014, and incorporated herein 
by reference).

 71

4.15

4.16

4.17

4.18

4.19

4.20

4.21

4.22

Form of Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 4.000% Notes due 2025 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2015, 
and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 4.000% Notes due 2025 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K 
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2015, and incorporated 
herein by reference).

Specimen certificate representing the 5.20% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, par 
value $.01 per share, of the Registrant (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement 
on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 11, 2016 and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Deposit Agreement, among the Registrant, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as 
Depositary, and the holders of depositary receipts (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s 
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 
11, 2016 and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 3.60% Notes due 2026 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2016, 
and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 3.60% Notes due 2026 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K and 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 12, 2016, and incorporated herein 
by reference).

Form of Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture between National Retail Properties, Inc. and U.S. Bank 
National Association relating to 3.50% Notes due 2027 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registrant's Current 
Report on Form 8-K and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 
2017, and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of 3.50% Notes due 2027 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K and 
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 19, 2017, and incorporated herein 
by reference).

10. Material Contracts

10.1

10.2

10.3

10.4

10.5

10.6

10.7

2007 Performance Incentive Plan (filed as Annex A to the Registrant’s 2007 Annual Proxy Statement 
on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2007, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Restricted Stock Agreement between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed as Exhibit 
10.2 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on March 15, 2005, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Craig Macnab 
(filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on December 3, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Julian E. 
Whitehurst (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Kevin B. 
Habicht (filed as Exhibit 10.3 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Paul E. Bayer 
(filed as Exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on December 3, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

Employment Agreement dated as of December 1, 2008, between the Registrant and Christopher P. 
Tessitore (filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on December 3, 2008, and incorporated herein by reference).

 72

10.8

10.9

Form of Indemnification Agreement (as entered into between the Registrant and each of its directors 
and executive officers) (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated 
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 12, 2009, and incorporated herein 
by reference).

Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and 
Craig Macnab (filed as Exhibit 10.10 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.10 Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and 

Julian E. Whitehurst (filed as Exhibit 10.11 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

10.11 Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and 
Kevin B. Habicht (filed as Exhibit 10.12 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with 
the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

10.12 Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and 
Paul E. Bayer (filed as Exhibit 10.13 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.13 Amendment to Employment Agreement dated as of November 8, 2010, between the Registrant and 

Christopher P. Tessitore (filed as Exhibit 10.14 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2011, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

10.14 Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2011, by and among the Registrant, 

certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the Administrative Agent (filed as 
Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission on June 1, 2011, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.15

10.16

10.17

10.18

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Performance between NNN and the Participant of NNN 
(filed as Exhibit 10.15 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed as 
Exhibit 10.16 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Special Grant between NNN and the Participant of NNN 
(filed as Exhibit 10.17 to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on May 4, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference).

First Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2012, by and 
among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the 
Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 1, 2012, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

10.19 Employment Agreement dated as of January 2, 2014, between the Registrant and Stephen A. Horn, 
Jr. (filed as Exhibit 10.19 to the Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on February 19, 2014, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.20

10.21

10.22

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 27, 2014, by 
and among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the 
Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 28, 2014, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Performance between NNN and the Participant of NNN 
(filed as exhibit 10.21 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service - Non-Executives between NNN and the Participant 
of NNN (filed as exhibit 10.22 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on May 2, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).

 73

10.23

Form of Restricted Award Agreement - Service between NNN and the Participant of NNN (filed as 
exhibit 10.23 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission on May 2, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.24 Retirement and Transition Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2016, between the registrant and 
Craig Macnab (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the 
Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2016, and incorporated herein by reference).

10.25 Amended and Restated Employment Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2016, between the 

registrant and Julian Whitehurst (filed as Exhibit 10.2 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-
K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 30, 2016, and incorporated 
herein by reference).

10.26

2017 Performance Incentive Plan (filed as Annex A to the Registrant’s 2017 Annual Proxy Statement 
on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 29, 2017, and 
incorporated herein by reference).

10.27 Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2017, by and 

among the Registrant, certain lenders and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as the 
Administrative Agent (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 26, 2017, and incorporated herein by 
reference).

12. Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed herewith).

21. Subsidiaries of the Registrant (filed herewith).

23. Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

23.1

Ernst & Young LLP dated February 13, 2018 (filed herewith).

24. Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

31. Section 302 Certifications

31.1

31.2

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act 
of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 
1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

32. Section 906 Certifications

32.1

32.2

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to 
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to 
Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

99. Additional Exhibits

99.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 303A.12(a) of the New York Stock 
Exchange Listed Company Manual (filed herewith).

101. Interactive Data File

101.1 The following materials from National Retail Properties, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the

period ended December 31, 2017, are formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language: (i)
consolidated balance sheets, (ii) consolidated statements of comprehensive income, (iii) consolidated
statements of stockholders' equity (iv) consolidated statements of cash flows, and (v) notes to
consolidated financial statements.

 74

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused 
this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, on the 13th day of February, 2018.

SIGNATURES

NATIONAL RETAIL PROPERTIES, INC.

By:

 /s/ Julian E. Whitehurst
Julian E. Whitehurst
Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following 
persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 75

 
 
 
POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints each of Julian E. Whitehurst, Kevin B. 
Habicht and Michelle L. Miller as his or her attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution 
for him or her in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments to this report and to file same, with exhibits thereto 
and other documents in connection therewith, granting unto such attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do 
and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary in connection with such matters and hereby ratifying and 
confirming all that such attorney-in-fact and agent or his or her substitutes may do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Signature

 /s/ Julian E. Whitehurst

Julian E. Whitehurst

/s/ Robert C. Legler

Robert C. Legler

/s/ Pamela K. Beall
Pamela K. Beall

/s/ Steven D. Cosler

Steven D. Cosler

/s/ Don DeFosset

Don DeFosset

/s/ David M. Fick

David M. Fick

/s/ Edward J. Fritsch

Edward J. Fritsch

/s/ Sam L. Susser

Sam L. Susser

/s/ Kevin B. Habicht

Kevin B. Habicht

/s/ Michelle L. Miller

Michelle L. Miller

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director

February 13, 2018

Title

Date

Chairman of the Board

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

Director

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

February 13, 2018

Director, Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer),
Executive Vice President, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer

February 13, 2018

Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer) and
Executive Vice President

February 13, 2018

 76

 
Our Officers and Directors
Executive Officers

Directors

JULIAN E. (JAY) WHITEHURST
President & Chief Executive Officer

ROBERT C. LEGLER
Chairman

KEVIN B. HABICHT 
Executive Vice President 

& Chief Financial Officer

PAUL E. BAYER 
Executive Vice President  

& Chief Investment Officer

CHRISTOPHER P. TESSITORE
Executive Vice President  

& General Counsel

STEPHEN A. HORN, JR.
Executive Vice President  

& Chief Acquisition Officer

MICHELLE L. MILLER
Executive Vice President  

& Chief Accounting Officer

PAMELA K. M. BEALL 1, 2
Executive Vice President 

& Chief Financial Officer

MPLX GP LLC

STEVEN D. COSLER 1,3
Operating Partner

EDWARD J. FRITSCH 1,2
President & Chief Executive Officer

Highwoods Properties, Inc.

SAM L. SUSSER 2,3
President

Susser Investment Company

JULIAN E. (JAY) WHITEHURST
President  & Chief Executive Officer

Water Street Healthcare Partners

National Retail Properties, Inc.

DON DEFOSSET 2,3
Retired Chairman, President  

& Chief Executive Officer

Walter Industries, Inc.

DAVID M. FICK 1,3
Professional Faculty Member

Johns Hopkins University  

Carey Business School; and,  

President

Nandua Oyster Company

KEVIN B. HABICHT
Executive Vice President 

& Chief Financial Officer

National Retail Properties, Inc.

1  Member, Audit Committee
2  Member, Governance and Nominating Committee
3  Member, Compensation Committee

Shareholder Information
General Information

Independent Registered 
Public Accounting Firm

Ernst & Young LLP

Corporate Office

National Retail Properties, Inc. 

450 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 900

Orlando, FL 32801

(800) NNN-REIT

(407) 265-7348

www.nnnreit.com

American Stock Transfer  

& Trust Company, LLC

Operations Center

6201 15th Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11219

www.astfinancial.com

(866) 627-2644

Shareholder Toll-free Line 

(866) 627-2644 

Worldwide: (718) 921-8346

Fax: (718) 236-2641

For Dividend Reinvestment

American Stock Transfer & Trust Company

P.O. Box 922

Wall Street Station

New York, NY 10269

Form 10-K

A copy of the Company’s Form 10-K, as 

filed with the Securities and Exchange 

Commission (SEC) for fiscal 2017, which 

includes as Exhibits the Chief Executive 

Officer and Chief Financial Officer 

certifications required to be filed with 

the SEC pursuant to Section 302 of the 

Sarbanes-Oxley Act, has been filed with 

the SEC and may also be obtained by 

stockholders without charge upon written 

request to the Company’s Secretary at the 

above address, or by visiting www.nnnreit.

com. During fiscal 2017, the Company filed 

with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) 

the Certification of its Chief Executive 

Officer confirming that the Chief Executive 

Officer was not aware of any violations 

by the Company of the NYSE’s corporate 

governance listing standards.

450 S. Orange Avenue, Suite 900
Orlando, FL 32801
(800) NNN-REIT
www.nnnreit.com