For Ventas, Welltower, Second Quarter Could Have Been Worse
Second quarter earnings reports are not done yet, but the majority of the companies and REITs have reported. We were obviously not expecting a good quarter, but given the trend lines from March through June, the results could have been worse. In fact, for many companies it appears as if the worst is behind them. Or maybe it is better said that the bad news is getting less so. Let’s just say, the fat lady has not completed her song yet. Before we get into some of the specifics of the two largest REITs, which happen to have the largest seniors housing operating portfolios, we do have some observations from the companies reporting. First, it appears that labor costs have declined for... Read More »
The Ensign Group Hits Record, Raises Guidance
We didn’t expect much positive news from the plethora of earnings announcements coming out these two weeks, but The Ensign Group defied expectations by achieving its highest adjusted earnings per share in its history of $0.78, an increase of 100% over the second quarter of 2019 and slightly above the previous record-setting Q1:20. The operator also raised its 2020 annual earnings guidance to $3.00-$3.10 per diluted share, up from the previous guidance of $2.50-$2.58. The news sent its share price soaring from $48.68 at close on August 5 to $57.99 on heavy volume on August 6 and even higher to $58.32 on August 7. Ensign also announced that it has returned all of the PPP... Read More »
Capital Senior Living Returns 18 Properties to Fannie Mae
It’s been quite a week of earnings announcements from the publicly traded senior care companies, with Healthpeak Properties, Welltower, CareTrust REIT, Sabra Health Care REIT, Omega Healthcare Investors, Five Star Senior Living, Diversified Healthcare Trust and The Ensign Group all reporting. Capital Senior Living Corporation also came out with its second quarter results, and surprised some by revealing it was turning 18 properties in forbearance with Fannie Mae back to the agency lender. We have never heard of a company basically handing the keys over to Fannie Mae for that many communities. It is safe to say we are in unchartered territory that does not fail to surprise us, to say the... Read More »
HealthPeak, Welltower, Ventas and Others Report This Week
In the next 48 hours, six companies will report second quarter earnings. While it won’t be pretty, you have to think long term. Earnings season is here, and I am afraid it will not be very pretty. Unfortunately, it has not been pretty for a while, but we can always hope. Six companies will be reporting second quarter earnings over the next 48 hours. Everyone is trying to put as good a face on it as they can, especially since we all know that at some point in the future, it will get better. The questions are when, which sectors will start improving first, and how much better will it get? The thing I have a hard time reconciling is that there is still plenty of equity capital out... Read More »
You Can’t Make This Up
California’s nursing home inspectors aren’t being tested for COVID-19. Say what? Nursing homes have been vilified in the media for the number of deaths in their facilities due to the coronavirus. Yes, infection control protocols were not up to snuff at many of them, and certainly not for this virus. But when asymptomatic staff and visitors arrive and unknowingly infect the residents, well, there was not much you could do about it, especially in the early months of the pandemic. Testing has been crucial, as we have all learned. But then we come to find out there was one group that somehow didn’t get the memo. Apparently, the state health inspectors who are visiting all of the... Read More »