Seeking Alphaยท2025-09-17 22:15Core Insights - Senior housing is one of the fastest growing real estate sectors, with Welltower (WELL) being the primary beneficiary of same-store NOI growth, but it is now considered overvalued compared to its peers [1][24] - National Health Investors (NHI) shows similar growth potential to WELL but trades at a significantly lower multiple, making it a more attractive investment option [2][49] - The overall fundamentals of senior housing are strong, driven by demographic trends, high absorption rates, reduced construction, occupancy growth potential, and increased affordability due to rising nest eggs [10][11] Industry Overview - REITs have resumed growth, with organic same-store NOI growth averaging 2.9% annually, and healthcare is identified as the top growth sector [3][6] - Senior housing specifically has experienced low double-digit growth, contributing significantly to the healthcare sector's 6.6% same-store NOI growth [9][10] - The aging population, referred to as the "silver tsunami," is a key driver for increased demand in senior housing [10][11] Market Dynamics - The period from 2015 to 2019 saw ambitious development leading to a supply glut, which was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in negative absorption [13][15] - Senior housing began to recover in 2022, with absorption rates improving and occupancy recovering from below 80% to nearly 90% [17][18] - Current occupancy levels indicate potential for further growth, as full occupancy is around 96% [18] Company Analysis - Welltower's stock has seen a five-year price return of +181%, but its valuation is now considered excessive, trading at 38.4X AFFO compared to peers like NHI, which trades at 16X AFFO [22][34][49] - Welltower's growth appears to be a recovery from pandemic losses rather than sustainable growth, leading to a disconnect between its market price and underlying earnings [32][39] - NHI's portfolio, with a significant portion in triple net leases, has shown strong fundamentals and similar growth potential to WELL, but at a much better valuation [45][48] Financial Metrics - Welltower's current pricing reflects an implied cap rate of 3%, significantly lower than the average cap rate of over 8% for other healthcare REITs [34][36] - NHI's same-store NOI grew by 29% year-over-year, driven by occupancy gains and margin expansion, indicating strong operational performance [46][48] - The consensus estimates for NHI's AFFO suggest solid growth potential, making it an attractive investment compared to WELL [50][51]