Ventas’s Outlook Revised by Fitch Ratings to Stable

Rhea-AI Summary

Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) has received a Stable outlook revision from Fitch Ratings, affirming its BBB+ credit rating. The upgrade is attributed to positive trends in Ventas’s senior housing operating portfolio, which is witnessing gains in rent growth and occupancy. Fitch anticipates a robust recovery driven by an increasing population aged 80+. Ventas benefits from a diversified portfolio, with around 30% in high-quality medical office buildings and life science properties. The company also enjoys strong liquidity with minimal debt due this year.

Positive

• Fitch Ratings revised Ventas’s outlook to Stable, affirming its BBB+ rating.
• Strong operating performance expected in senior housing portfolio with rising rent and occupancy.
• Positive demographic trends with growth in the 80+ population supporting recovery.
• Approximately 30% of the portfolio consists of high-quality medical office and life science properties.
• Strong liquidity position with minimal debt maturing in 2023.

Negative

• None.

Fitch Ratings affirms BBB+ credit rating and highlights strong SHOP operating recovery and durable cash flows from diversified portfolio

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) today announced that Fitch Ratings (“Fitch”) has revised its rating outlook for Ventas to Stable from Negative and affirmed Ventas’s issuer credit rating of ‘BBB+’. In revising Ventas’s outlook, Fitch highlights that operating performance in Ventas’s senior housing operating portfolio is expected to continue to gain momentum as evidenced by steady gains in rent growth and occupancy. Fitch believes that the senior housing portfolio is positioned for a strong recovery driven by attractive 80+ population growth leading to higher move-ins and a favorable supply backdrop.

Fitch notes the benefits of Ventas’s diversified portfolio, approximately 30% of which consists of high-quality, principally on-campus medical office buildings and life science properties anchored by over 17 top-tier, high credit research universities. Fitch also cites Ventas’s strong liquidity position with minimal debt maturing through 2023 and management’s commitment to a strong financial policy.

Fitch’s full report on Ventas is available at www.fitchratings.com.

About Ventas

Ventas Inc., an S&P 500 company, operates at the intersection of two large and dynamic industries – healthcare and real estate. Fueled by powerful demographic demand from growth in the aging population, Ventas owns a diversified portfolio of over 1,200 properties in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Ventas uses the power of its capital to unlock the value of senior living communities; life science, research & innovation properties; medical office & outpatient facilities, hospitals and other healthcare real estate. A globally recognized real estate investment trust, Ventas follows a successful long-term strategy, proven over more than 20 years, built on diversification of property types, capital sources and industry leading partners, financial strength and flexibility, consistent and reliable growth and industry leading ESG achievements, managed by a collaborative and experienced team dedicated to its stakeholders.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These forward-looking statements include, among others, statements of expectations, beliefs, future plans and strategies, anticipated results from operations and developments and other matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements include, among other things, statements regarding our and our officers’ intent, belief or expectation as identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “project,” “expect,” “believe,” “intend,” “anticipate,” “seek,” “target,” “forecast,” “plan,” “potential,” “opportunity,” “estimate,” “could,” “would,” “should” and other comparable and derivative terms or the negatives thereof.

Forward-looking statements are based on management’s beliefs as well as on a number of assumptions concerning future events. You should not put undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are not a guarantee of performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We do not undertake a duty to update these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made. You are urged to carefully review the disclosures we make concerning risks and uncertainties that may affect our business and future financial performance, including those made below and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, such as in the sections titled “Cautionary Statements — Summary Risk Factors,” “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and “Risk Factors” in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022.

Certain factors that could affect our future results and our ability to achieve our stated goals include, but are not limited to: (a) the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its extended consequences, including of the Delta, Omicron or any other variant, on our revenue, level of profitability, liquidity and overall risk exposure and the implementation and impact of regulations related to the CARES Act and other stimulus legislation and any future COVID-19 relief measures; (b) our ability to achieve the anticipated benefits and synergies from, and effectively integrate, our acquisitions and investments, including our acquisition of New Senior Investment Group Inc.; (c) our exposure and the exposure of our tenants, managers and borrowers to complex healthcare and other regulation and the challenges and expense associated with complying with such regulation; (d) the potential for significant general and commercial claims, legal actions, regulatory proceedings or enforcement actions that could subject us or our tenants, managers or borrowers to increased operating costs and uninsured liabilities; (e) the impact of market and general economic conditions, including economic and financial market events, inflation, changes in interest rates, supply chain pressures, events that affect consumer confidence, our occupancy rates and resident fee revenues, and the actual and perceived state of the real estate markets, labor markets and public capital markets; (f) our ability, and the ability of our tenants, managers and borrowers, to navigate the trends impacting our or their businesses and the industries in which we or they operate; (g) the risk of bankruptcy, insolvency or financial deterioration of our tenants, managers, borrowers and other obligors and our ability to foreclose successfully on the collateral securing our loans and other investments in the event of a borrower default; (h) our ability to identify and consummate future investments in or dispositions of healthcare assets and effectively manage our portfolio opportunities and our investments in co-investment vehicles, joint ventures and minority interests; (i) risks related to development, redevelopment and construction projects; (j) our ability to attract and retain talented employees; (k) the limitations and significant requirements imposed upon our business as a result of our status as a REIT and the adverse consequences (including the possible loss of our status as a REIT) that would result if we are not able to comply; (l) the risk of changes in healthcare law or regulation or in tax laws, guidance and interpretations, particularly as applied to REITs, that could adversely affect us or our tenants, managers or borrowers; (m) increases in our borrowing costs as a result of becoming more leveraged or as a result of changes in interest rates and phasing out of LIBOR rates; (n) our reliance on third parties to operate a majority of our assets and our limited control and influence over such operations and results; (o) our dependency on a limited number of tenants and managers for a significant portion of our revenues and operating income; (p) the adequacy of insurance coverage provided by our policies and policies maintained by our tenants, managers or other counterparties; (q) the occurrence of cyber incidents that could disrupt our operations, result in the loss of confidential information or damage our business relationships and reputation; (r) the impact of merger, acquisition and investment activity in the healthcare industry or otherwise affecting our tenants, managers or borrowers; (s) disruptions to the management and operations of our business and the uncertainties caused by activist investors; and (t) the risk of catastrophic or extreme weather and other natural events and the physical effects of climate change.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220718005680/en/

Ventas, Inc.

BJ Grant

(877) 4-VENTAS

Source: Ventas, Inc.

FAQ

What is Ventas's credit rating as of this press release?

Ventas has a BBB+ credit rating affirmed by Fitch Ratings.

What was the outlook change for Ventas by Fitch Ratings?

The outlook for Ventas was revised from Negative to Stable.

How is Ventas's senior housing portfolio performing?

The senior housing operating portfolio is showing steady rent growth and increased occupancy.

What percentage of Ventas's portfolio is made up of medical office buildings and life science properties?

Approximately 30% of Ventas's portfolio consists of high-quality medical office buildings and life science properties.

What factors are driving the expected recovery in Ventas's business?

The expected recovery is driven by the growing population aged 80+ and favorable supply conditions.