CareTrust REIT Announces Third Quarter 2020 Operating Results

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif., Nov. 05, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CareTrust REIT, Inc. (Nasdaq:CTRE) today reported operating results for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, as well as other recent events.

For the quarter, CareTrust REIT reported:

• Net income of $21.6 million and net income per diluted weighted-average common share of $0.23;
• Normalized FFO of $32.5 million and normalized FFO per diluted weighted-average common share of $0.34;
• Normalized FAD of $33.9 million and normalized FAD per diluted weighted-average common share of $0.36; and
• A net debt-to-normalized EBITDA ratio of 3.1x, and a net debt-to-enterprise value of 22.0%, each as of quarter-end.

Lengthening the Runway

“Our tenants and their outstanding care teams continue to make impressive gains against the global pandemic," said Greg Stapley, CareTrust's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Dealing with infection control issues around highly contagious diseases has never been easy, but they have been doing it for a long time and with the advent of widespread testing, more effective treatments and an overall better understanding of the virus, they are in a much better position with respect to COVID-19 than they were three short months ago,” he said.

Mr. Stapley noted that the costs associated with battling the virus are still elevated, and for most operators, occupancy and operating revenues have not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels. “Financially, most of our tenants’ operations still have a ways to go,” he said. He noted, however, that some of the Company’s seniors housing tenants have not experienced a census decline since February. He also noted that, while the occupancy decline for its skilled nursing tenants remains significant, increased revenues associated with elevated skilled mix continue to partially offset the occupancy impact. “The HHS provider relief funds have been critical for all but a couple of our tenants, and structural changes in reimbursement, including the waiver of the three-day qualifying stay requirement, the suspension of sequestration and the FMAP funding from several states, have all provided a meaningful cushion for most operators, allowing them to focus more on patients and staff and less on nickels and dimes,” he said.

Dave Sedgwick, CareTrust’s Chief Operating Officer, added that the question now is how far the provider relief funds granted to date, as well as any future anticipated funding, will carry the operators who need it as the pandemic plays out. “Our asset and portfolio management teams have put a tremendous amount of effort and analysis into understanding how each of our tenants is managing their way through the daily financial challenges presented by the COVID-19 response, and especially how far the government stimulus and other measures will take them if we see an extended recovery period,” said Mr. Sedgwick. “We are pleased to report that nearly all of our tenants appear to have enough runway to continue performing financially for the next few quarters while vaccines and other mitigants roll out, and we see a path to a soft landing for the ones who will need that runway,” he said.

Mr. Sedgwick reported that CareTrust has published the high-level results of its tenant-by-tenant analysis as an expanded lease coverage table in its quarterly supplemental report, released today alongside its 10-Q. The table shows coverage for the second quarter of 2020, which was the first full quarter of COVID-19’s impact on providers, and provides a snapshot of how tenants’ operations performed both with and without provider relief funding. “The coverage disclosures clearly show just how hard the early days of the pandemic were for most operators, and how important provider relief funds have been,” said Mr. Sedgwick. “And while we do not yet have full reporting for Q3, based on the data we’ve seen so far most providers will show improvement in their operating metrics for Q3, and we intend to continue being as transparent as possible in our disclosures around the ongoing financial health of our tenants going forward,” he added.

Financial Results for Quarter Ended September 30, 2020

Chief Financial Officer Bill Wagner reported that, for the third quarter, CareTrust generated net income of $21.6 million, or $0.23 per diluted weighted-average common share, normalized FFO of $32.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted weighted-average common share, and normalized FAD of $33.9 million, or $0.36 per diluted weighted-average common share. “We are once again pleased to be keeping earnings on track in the midst of an extended national emergency, while simultaneously maintaining industry-low leverage and positioning CareTrust for future growth,” said Mr. Wagner.

Liquidity

As of quarter end, CareTrust reported net debt-to-normalized EBITDA of approximately 3.1x, which is well under the Company's target leverage range of 4.0x to 5.0x, and represents a net debt-to-enterprise value of approximately 22.0%. Mr. Wagner stated that at quarter end the Company had no borrowings outstanding on its $600 million revolving credit line, and no scheduled debt maturities prior to 2024. He also disclosed that CareTrust currently has more than $24 million in cash on hand. He also noted that the Company's at-the-market equity program has $500 million in available authorization. "With both the debt and equity markets accessible to us at present, we have a wide range of capital options for funding our opportunistic growth strategy," said Mr. Wagner.

Pipeline Recovering

Turning to growth, Mark Lamb, CareTrust’s Chief Investment Officer, highlighted CareTrust’s recent acquisition of two skilled nursing facilities in Montana. “The Montana transaction was commenced after the pandemic lockdowns began, and represents our first pandemic-era deal,” he said. The $16.6 million acquisition included Apple Rehab Cooney, an 80-bed facility located on the campus of the St. Peter’s Health Regional Medical Center in Helena, Montana, and Elkhorn Healthcare & Rehabilitation, a 70-bed facility located in neighboring Clancy, Montana. Both facilities were added to CareTrust’s master lease with Salt Lake City-based Eduro Healthcare, increasing the annual cash rent due thereunder by approximately $1.55 million. Mr. Lamb also reported a noticeable pick up in CareTrust’s investment pipeline in the third quarter and since. "The pandemic largely brought transaction flow to a halt for several months, and refilling the pipe usually takes time," he said. He stated that since August, however, a marked increase in prospective deal flow has been keeping CareTrust's investment and underwriting teams fairly busy, with the current pipeline returning to the $125 million to $150 million level. "As a reminder, CareTrust generally defines its reportable pipeline as those deals that we are actively pursuing and believe we have a reasonable chance of successfully closing," he said.

2020 Guidance Increased

CareTrust increased its 2020 annual guidance projecting, on a per-diluted weighted-average common share basis, net income of approximately $0.83 to $0.84, normalized FFO of approximately $1.36 to $1.37, and normalized FAD of approximately $1.42 to $1.43. Mr. Wagner indicated that, notwithstanding the COVID-19 pandemic and related challenges, CareTrust has consistently collected approximately 99% of monthly rents while adding revenue from recent investments. "After some initial stress, our tenants are now managing through the challenges of COVID-19, and we project that they will continue to fare well over the near term," he added.

The guidance is based on a diluted weighted-average common share count of 95.4 million shares, and per CareTrust’s standard practice includes all investments, dispositions and loan repayments made to date, and assumes no new acquisitions, dispositions, new loans or loan repayments beyond those completed or announced to date and no new debt incurrences or new equity issuances. “Naturally, we note that material changes in economic and other factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s responses thereto could alter our outlook at any time,” he concluded.

Dividend Maintained

During the quarter, CareTrust declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per common share. On an annualized basis, the payout ratio was approximately 74% based on third quarter 2020 normalized FFO, and 69% based on normalized FAD.

Conference Call

A conference call will be held on Friday, November 6, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time (11:00 a.m. Pacific Time), during which CareTrust’s management will discuss third quarter 2020 results, recent developments and other matters. The dial-in number for this call is (844) 220-4972 (U.S.) or (317) 973-4053 (International). The conference ID number is 1377106. To listen to the call online, or to view any financial or other statistical information required by SEC Regulation G, please visit the Investors section of the CareTrust REIT website at http://investor.caretrustreit.com. The call will be recorded, and will be available for replay via the website for 30 days following the call.

About CareTrust™

CareTrust REIT, Inc. is a self-administered, publicly-traded real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing, seniors housing and other healthcare-related properties. With a nationwide portfolio of long-term net-leased properties, and a growing portfolio of quality operators leasing them, CareTrust REIT is pursuing both external and organic growth opportunities across the United States. More information about CareTrust REIT is available at www.caretrustreit.com.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995:

This press release contains, and the related conference call will include, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical statements of fact and statements regarding the Company’s intent, belief or expectations, including, but not limited to, statements regarding future financial and financing positions, business and acquisition strategies, growth prospects, operating and financial performance, expectations regarding the making of distributions, payment of dividends, compliance with and changes in governmental regulations, and the performance of the Company’s tenants and operators and their respective facilities.

Words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “expect,” “estimate,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “should,” “will,” “would,” and similar expressions, or the negative of these terms, are intended to identify such forward-looking statements, though not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. The Company’s forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations and beliefs, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could lead to actual results differing materially from those projected, forecasted or expected. Although the Company believes that the assumptions underlying these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they are not guarantees and the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors which could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s operations and future prospects or which could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations include, but are not limited to: (i) the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures taken to prevent its spread and the related impact on our business or the businesses of our tenants; (ii) the ability and willingness of our tenants to meet and/or perform their obligations under the triple-net leases we have entered into with them, including, without limitation, their respective obligations to indemnify, defend and hold us harmless from and against various claims, litigation and liabilities; (iii) the ability of our tenants to comply with applicable laws, rules and regulations in the operation of the properties we lease to them; (iv) the ability and willingness of our tenants to renew their leases with us upon their expiration, and the ability to reposition our properties on the same or better terms in the event of nonrenewal or in the event we replace an existing tenant, as well as any obligations, including indemnification obligations, we may incur in connection with the replacement of an existing tenant; (v) the availability of and the ability to identify (a) tenants who meet our credit and operating standards, and (b) suitable acquisition opportunities, and the ability to acquire and lease the respective properties to such tenants on favorable terms; (vi) the ability to generate sufficient cash flows to service our outstanding indebtedness; (vii) access to debt and equity capital markets; (viii) fluctuating interest rates; (ix) the ability to retain our key management personnel; (x) the ability to maintain our status as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”); (xi) changes in the U.S. tax law and other state, federal or local laws, whether or not specific to REITs; (xii) other risks inherent in the real estate business, including potential liability relating to environmental matters and illiquidity of real estate investments; and (xiii) additional factors included in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2020, including in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in Part II, Item 1A of such report, and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019, including in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in Item 1A of Part I of such report, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC.

This press release and the related conference call provides information about the Company's financial results as of and for the quarter ended September 30, 2020 and is provided as of the date hereof, unless specifically stated otherwise.  The Company expressly disclaims any obligation to update or revise any information in this press release or the related conference call (and replays thereof), including forward-looking statements, whether to reflect any change in the Company’s expectations, any change in events, conditions or circumstances, or otherwise.

As used in this press release or the related conference call, unless the context requires otherwise, references to “CTRE,” "CareTrust," “CareTrust REIT” or the “Company” refer to CareTrust REIT, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. GAAP refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America.

Contact:
CareTrust REIT, Inc.
(949) 542-3130
ir@caretrustreit.com

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA represents net income before interest expense (including amortization of deferred financing costs), amortization of stock-based compensation, and depreciation and amortization. Normalized EBITDA represents EBITDA as further adjusted to eliminate the impact of certain items that the Company does not consider indicative of core operating performance, such as real estate impairment charges, provision for loan losses, provision for doubtful accounts and lease restructuring, recovery of previously reversed rent, lease termination revenue, property operating expenses and gains or losses from dispositions of real estate. EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to those measures in evaluating the Company’s liquidity or operating performance. EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA do not purport to be indicative of cash available to fund future cash requirements, including the Company’s ability to fund capital expenditures or make payments on its indebtedness. Further, the Company’s computation of EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA may not be comparable to EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA reported by other REITs.

Funds from Operations (“FFO”), as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“Nareit”), and Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) are important non-GAAP supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT. Because the historical cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires straight-line depreciation except on land, such accounting presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values have historically risen or fallen with market and other conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that uses historical cost accounting for depreciation could be less informative. Thus, Nareit created FFO as a supplemental measure of operating performance for REITs that excludes historical cost depreciation and amortization, among other items, from net income, as defined by GAAP.

FFO is defined by Nareit as net income computed in accordance with GAAP, excluding gains or losses from dispositions of real estate investments, real estate depreciation and amortization and real estate impairment charges, and adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures. The Company computes FFO in accordance with Nareit’s definition.

FAD is defined as FFO excluding noncash income and expenses, such as amortization of stock-based compensation, amortization of deferred financing fees and the effects of straight-line rent. The Company considers FAD to be a useful supplemental measure to evaluate the Company’s operating results excluding these income and expense items to help investors, analysts and other interested parties compare the operating performance of the Company between periods or as compared to other companies on a more consistent basis.

In addition, the Company reports Normalized FFO and Normalized FAD, which adjust FFO and FAD for certain revenue and expense items that the Company does not believe are indicative of its ongoing operating results, such as provision for loan losses, provision for doubtful accounts and lease restructuring, recovery of previously reversed rent, lease termination revenue and property operating expenses. By excluding these items, investors, analysts and our management can compare Normalized FFO and Normalized FAD between periods more consistently.

While FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD are relevant and widely-used measures of operating performance among REITs, they do not represent cash flows from operations or net income as defined by GAAP and should not be considered an alternative to those measures in evaluating the Company’s liquidity or operating performance. FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD do not purport to be indicative of cash available to fund future cash requirements.

Further, the Company’s computation of FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD may not be comparable to FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD reported by other REITs that do not define FFO in accordance with the current Nareit definition or that interpret the current Nareit definition or define FAD differently than the Company does.

The Company believes that net income, as defined by GAAP, is the most appropriate earnings measure. The Company also believes that the use of EBITDA, Normalized EBITDA, FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD, combined with the required GAAP presentations, improves the understanding of operating results of REITs among investors and makes comparisons of operating results among such companies more meaningful. The Company considers EBITDA and Normalized EBITDA useful in understanding the Company’s operating results independent of its capital structure, indebtedness and other charges that are not indicative of its ongoing results, thereby allowing for a more meaningful comparison of operating performance between periods and against other REITs. The Company considers FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD to be useful measures for reviewing comparative operating and financial performance because, by excluding gains or losses from real estate dispositions, impairment charges and real estate depreciation and amortization, and, for FAD and Normalized FAD, by excluding noncash income and expenses such as amortization of stock-based compensation, amortization of deferred financing fees, and the effects of straight-line rent, FFO, Normalized FFO, FAD and Normalized FAD can help investors compare the Company’s operating performance between periods and to other REITs.