Kite Realty Group Trust’s loss of $1.1 million in the first quarter reflected lower construction activity and lower profit on land and outlet sales, the Indianapolis-based commercial real estate developer said Wednesday.

Kite’s loss compares with a profit of $700,000 in the year-ago period and earnings of $600,000 for the fourth quarter of 2009.

Funds from operations in the first quarter fell to $7.1 million, or 10 cents per share, compared with $8.3 million, or 20 cents per share, for the year-ago period. Funds from operations, or FFO, is a common performance figure used by real estate investment trusts to define cash flow from their operations.

The company’s performance nearly met the expectations of analysts, who estimated earnings at 11 cents per share.

First-quarter revenue declined nearly 18 percent, to $25.6 million.

“We posted another strong quarter of leasing activity, and operating results in the quarter met our expectations,” Chairman and CEO John A. Kite said in a prepared statement. “The leasing environment continues to improve, and we are diligently working to capitalize on opportunities.”

Occupancy in Kite's 51 retail centers was 90 percent, unchanged from the previous quarter.

Kite signed or renewed 23 leases in the first quarter totaling 345,600 square feet. The amount included 237,500 square feet from a renewal with Macy’s at Glendale Town Center in Indianapolis.

Rental rates for the 11 lease renewals were 0.3 percent below previous rents.
    
Company shares closed Wednesday at $4.91 each, after reaching $5.97 in late April.