Welltower Stock Rises 28.9% Year to Date: Will the Trend Last?

Core Insights - Welltower's shares have increased by 28.9% year-to-date, significantly outperforming the industry's growth of 1.7% [1][8] Company Overview - Welltower owns a diversified portfolio of healthcare real estate assets across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., positioning itself to benefit from the aging population and rising healthcare expenditures among senior citizens [2] - The company has a healthy balance sheet and is focused on portfolio repositioning, which is expected to support future growth [2] Financial Performance - In Q2 2025, Welltower reported a normalized FFO per share of $1.28, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.22, and reflecting a year-over-year increase of 21.9% [3][8] - The total portfolio's same-store net operating income (SSNOI) grew significantly, driven by the SHO portfolio, marking the 11th consecutive quarter of over 20% year-over-year growth in SHO SSNOI [5][8] - The guidance for 2025 normalized FFO per share has been raised, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate now at $5.06 [4] Market Trends - The senior citizen population is projected to rise, leading to increased healthcare expenditures, which is favorable for Welltower's SHO portfolio [5] - The industry is experiencing muted new supply, which is beneficial for Welltower's revenue growth prospects [5] Strategic Initiatives - Welltower is enhancing its SHO portfolio through strategic acquisitions and capital recycling, with $2.08 billion allocated for 78 SHO properties from the beginning of the year through July 28, 2025 [6] - The company is also optimizing its outpatient management (OM) portfolio and strengthening relationships with health system partners to support long-term growth [9] Acquisition Activity - In March 2025, Welltower announced plans to acquire the Amica Senior Lifestyles portfolio for C$4.6 billion, and in February 2025, it acquired 48 skilled nursing facilities for $990.9 million [10] Financial Health - As of June 30, 2025, Welltower had $9.5 billion in available liquidity, including $4.5 billion in cash and a fully utilized $5 billion line of credit, indicating strong financial flexibility [11] - The net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio improved to 2.93X from 3.68X year-over-year, with a well-laddered debt maturity profile averaging 5.8 years [11]