Key Reasons to Add Welltower Stock to Your Portfolio Right Now

Core Viewpoint - Welltower Inc. is positioned for growth due to its diversified healthcare real estate portfolio, favorable industry dynamics, restructuring efforts, and a strong balance sheet [1][2]. Group 1: Company Performance - Analysts are optimistic about Welltower, with a Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2025 FFO per share increasing by $0.03 to $4.98 [2]. - Welltower's shares have appreciated by 13.8% over the past six months, contrasting with a 1.9% decline in the industry [2]. Group 2: Market Dynamics - The aging population and rising healthcare expenditures among senior citizens are expected to drive demand for Welltower's seniors' housing operating (SHO) portfolio [3]. - A supply-demand imbalance is anticipated to lead to sustained occupancy growth in Welltower's portfolio in 2025 and beyond [4]. Group 3: Financial Metrics - In Q1 2025, the same-store net operating income (NOI) for the SHO portfolio increased by 21.7%, marking the tenth consecutive quarter of over 20% growth [5]. - Management projects same-store SHO NOI growth for 2025 to be between 16.5% and 21.5%, supported by a 9% revenue increase and a 350 basis points rise in occupancy [5]. Group 4: Strategic Initiatives - Welltower is enhancing its outpatient medical (OM) portfolio by optimizing operations and forming partnerships with health systems, which is expected to support long-term growth [6]. - The company has undertaken restructuring efforts that have attracted top operators, improving cash flow quality [7]. Group 5: Balance Sheet Strength - As of March 31, 2025, Welltower had $8.6 billion in available liquidity, with a net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio of 3.33X, down from 4.03X year-over-year [9]. - The company's debt maturities are well-structured, with a weighted average maturity of 5.8 years, enhancing financial flexibility [9]. Group 6: Credit Ratings - S&P Global Ratings and Moody's Investor Service upgraded Welltower's credit ratings to "A-" and "A3," respectively, both with stable outlooks [10].