


Welltower Is Going Transparent
First, we have to applaud Welltower for being very transparent with regard to what is happening with its customers, specifically its seniors housing operating portfolio (SHOP) customers. This is very important, not only for REIT investors, but for the entire seniors housing community to better understand how this COVID-19 pandemic is impacting business, but also the general economic deterioration. Last month, Welltower disclosed that its SHOP portfolio, which includes 612 properties with more than 73,000 units, had seen 20-basis point declines in occupancy every two weeks in March, that costs were rising and that tours and move-ins were starting to decline. This... Read More »
Some Providers Succeeding Despite COVID-19
All we hear about is how COVID-19 is spreading through skilled nursing facilities and some seniors housing communities. Bad news sells, pure and simple. We certainly know that, and there has been plenty of bad news the past few years, and weeks. Have you ever seen the headline, “65 residents at assisted living community drank and danced at a Mardi Gras party”? Really, never? It has happened. But it is not all doom and gloom out there. Last week we spoke with a mid-sized California operator of assisted living communities in the state, and so far, they have been spared much of the COVID pain. Of the approximately dozen or so assisted living communities they operate, just four... Read More »
Are Nursing Home Residents Really “Sitting Ducks”?
Nursing home residents live there because they are frail and often with major illnesses. As a result, they are more prone to infections than others, with worse outcomes. But don’t call them sitting ducks. We all know that The New York Times has had an issue with the entire skilled nursing sector for many years. They just like to pick on it, and when there is a major problem, they pounce. Much like they did last year with the record HUD loan loss, and now this year with the pandemic. But what really irritated me was the recent front-page headline which included, “Residents Are Sitting Ducks.” Now, this phrase did come from someone they interviewed, but the only thing the reader will... Read More »
Capital Senior Living Files Registration Statement
At the end of last week, Capital Senior Living filed an S-3 registration statement for the issuance of up to $150 million in various securities. And when we say “various,” we mean it. It could be common stock, preferred stock, senior debt, subordinated debt, depositary shares, warrants, rights, units, purchase contracts…you name it. What we don’t know is if this was just a formality, with this shelf registration statement replacing an old one that was expiring. If so, no big deal. If not, and if they might issue new debt, stock or other securities, that could be a troublesome sign. After their fourth quarter earnings call, we felt a little better about their prospects, with... Read More »