National Health Investors Inc. Reports Operating Results (10-Q)

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Nov 06, 2009
National Health Investors Inc. (NHI, Financial) filed Quarterly Report for the period ended 2009-09-30.

National Health Investors Inc. is a real estate investment trust which invests in income producing health care properties primarily in the long-term care industry. The company provides current income for distribution to stockholders through investments in health care related facilities including long-term care facilities acute care hospitals medical office buildings retirement centers and assisted living facilities. National Health Investors Inc. has a market cap of $854.7 million; its shares were traded at around $30.98 with a P/E ratio of 12.4 and P/S ratio of 13.5. The dividend yield of National Health Investors Inc. stocks is 7.1%.

Highlight of Business Operations:

Of the 76 health care properties leased to operators, 41 are leased to National HealthCare Corporation (“NHC”), a publicly-held company and our largest customer. Our current lease with NHC expires December 31, 2021 (excluding 3 additional 5-year renewal options). For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, rental income was $44,570,000 of which $26,222,000 (59%) was recognized from NHC consisting of base rent of $25,275,000, percentage rent for 2008 of $541,000 and percentage rent for 2009 of $406,000 (the base year for the percentage rent calculation having been 2007). For the nine months ended September 30, 2008, rental income was $40,017,000 of which $25,275,000 (63%) was recognized from NHC consisting of base rent only. The 41 facilities include four centers subleased to and operated by other companies, the lease payments of which are guaranteed to us by NHC.

As of September 30, 2009, the average effective quarterly rental income was $1,548 per licensed bed for skilled nursing facilities, $4,947 per licensed bed for assisted living facilities, $861 per unit for independent living facilities, $12,770 per bed for hospitals and $4 per square foot for medical office buildings.

In 2008, we concluded there was an other-than-temporary impairment of the Fund and the IMA totaling $2,065,000 and additional realized losses were $410,000, both of which were charged to operations. In 2008, we received cash distributions of principal from the Fund and IMA totaling $23,031,000. From December 31, 2008 through September 30, 2009, we received cash distributions of principal from the Fund (which was fully liquidated during the period) and IMA totaling $7,347,000. Net realized gains for the same period were $459,000 and were recognized as non-operating income. At September 30, 2009, the fair market value of our investment in the IMA was estimated to be $1,124,000 with a revised cost basis of $1,064,000.

Total revenues for the three months ended September 30, 2009, were $19,622,000 versus $15,620,000 in 2008, an increase of $4,002,000 or 25.6%. Rental income increased $3,834,000 or 29.0% from the same period in 2008 primarily as a result of (1) the recognition into income of $2,000,000 received in past-due rents from RGL Development, LLC, a lessee of 8 assisted living facilities, (2) an increase of $1,248,000 from Legend for new leases that commenced in July and August, 2009, (3) an increase of $95,000 related to a lease that commenced in Orangeburg, SC in October 2008, (4) percentage rent from NHC of $136,000, (5) rent adjustments of $266,000 and (6) smaller items totaling $89,000.

Total revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, were $51,641,000 versus $47,231,000 in 2008, an increase of $4,410,000 or 9.3%. Rental income increased $4,553,000 or 11.4% from the same period in 2008 primarily as a result of (1) the recognition into income of $2,000,000 received in past-due rents from RGL Development, LLC, a lessee of 8 assisted living facilities, (2) an increase of $1,248,000 from Legend Healthcare, LLC for new leases that commenced in July and August, 2009, (3) percentage rent from NHC of $947,000 (of which $541,000 related to the 2008 lease period), (4) an increase of $285,000 related to a lease that commenced in Orangeburg, SC in October 2008, and (5) smaller adjustments to existing leases of $73,000.

Total expenses for the nine months ended September 30, 2009, were $11,517,000 versus $10,001,000 for the same period in 2008, an increase of $1,516,000 or 15.2%. Depreciation expense increased $274,000 over the same period in 2008 due to new real estate investments made in 2009. Legal expense increased $231,000 over the same period in 2008 due primarily to litigation with our customer CFA. We expect legal fees to increase further during the last quarter of our fiscal year. General and administrative expenses increased $1,799,000 from the same period in 2008 due to the write-down of accounts receivable of $250,000, increased payroll and non-cash compensation totaling $1,643,000 related to additions to our corporate management and staff, offset by decreases in smaller items totaling $94,000. During 2008, there was a forfeiture of restricted stock that reduced compensation expense by $566,000.

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