Yesterday, we issued our fourth quarter and full year 2025 earnings release, presentation materials, and supplemental information package, which are available on the Ventas website at ir.ventasreit.com. For a more detailed discussion of those factors, please refer to our earnings release for this quarter and to our most recent SEC filings, all of which are available on the Ventas website. I want to welcome all of our shareholders and other participants to the Ventas Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Earnings Call. As secular demand from a large and growing aging population strengthens and supply remains constrained, we are intent on the significant value creation opportunity ahead.

Our normalized FFO per share increased by 9%, and our same-store SHOP cash net operating income grew 15%, our fourth consecutive year of double-digit SHOP NOI growth. We raised $7 billion of capital from a wide array of sources at attractive prices during the year. Our investment activity also accelerated as we closed $2.5 billion of high-quality senior housing investments that enhance our enterprise growth. Our investors were rewarded in 2025 as Ventas delivered total shareholder returns of 35%, significantly outperforming our industry benchmarks by wide margins and the S&P 500 in a year when it reached record highs.

We are keenly focused on the multi-year NOI growth and value creation opportunities ahead. Let's start with the durable and powerful demand trends in senior housing. Both sides of this demand-supply imbalance are weighted strongly in our favor... With a long runway ahead, we intend to continue executing our strategic vision of, 1, delivering outsized senior housing organic growth.

What went well
  • Full-year normalized FFO per share grew 9% to $3.48, at the high end of guidance, with fourth quarter FFO up 10% year-over-year.
  • Fourth quarter SHOP NOI grew 15.4% year-over-year (U.S. up 18%) with margin expanding 180 basis points to over 28% on 50% incremental margin; full year achieved better-than-expected 280 bps average occupancy growth.
  • Leverage improved to 5.2x in the fourth quarter, the best since 2012, driven by organic growth and equity-funded investments; pro forma leverage approaching 5x.
  • Delivered 35% total shareholder returns in 2025, significantly outperforming industry benchmarks and the S&P 500, and the board approved an 8% dividend increase.
  • Closed $2.5 billion of high-quality senior housing acquisitions and raised over $7 billion of capital (nearly $4 billion debt and $3.2 billion equity); operator base reached 43.
What went wrong
  • The research portfolio (8% of total NOI) grew same-store NOI only 30 basis points year-over-year, with a modest decline expected to continue into 2026 given the sector backdrop.
  • 2026 FFO growth of 8% is held back relative to the nearly 10% same-store growth by the expiration of non-cash Brookdale rental income ($0.04 year-over-year) and higher net interest expense from refinancing $2.2 billion of maturing debt at higher rates.
  • Modestly higher first quarter expenses were included in 2026 guidance reflecting recent severe winter weather across the U.S.
  • Triple net is expected to step down to roughly a 3% escalator run rate after the outsized January Brookdale increase rolls off.

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodCurrent guidance
Normalized FFO per shareFY2026$3.78-$3.88, $3.83 midpoint (8% comparable growth)
Net income per shareFY2026$0.57 at midpoint
SHOP same-store NOI growthFY202613%-17%, 15% midpoint
Total company same-store cash NOI growthFY2026nearly 10% at midpoint
OMR same-store growthFY20262.5% midpoint
Triple net same-store growthFY2026over 4% (led by January Brookdale cash rent increase)
SHOP occupancy growthFY2026270 bps
SHOP RevPOR growthFY20265% (supported by 8% in-house rent increases)
SHOP operating expense growthFY20265%
Senior housing investment volumeFY2026$2.5 billion, equity-funded
Cash G&AFY2026low $150 million range
Average share countFY2026503 million shares
FAD CapExFY2026about $400 million

Performance Breakdown

MetricYoYNote
Full-year normalized FFO per share 9% to $3.48 Solid execution of the one, two, three strategy led by SHOP organic NOI growth and $2.5 billion of accretive senior housing investments.
Q4 normalized FFO per share 10% Same-store property growth of 8% led by SHOP (up 15%).
Q4 SHOP same-store NOI 15.4% (U.S. 18%) Occupancy growth of 300 bps year-over-year (U.S. 370 bps), revenue growth over 8%, and 50% incremental margin; margin up 180 bps to over 28%.
Q4 SHOP RevPOR 4.7% Mixed impact from outsized occupancy growth in lower-priced independent living portfolio.
Q4 OMR same-store cash NOI nearly 4% Outpatient medical up 4.5% with occupancy reaching almost 91% (6th consecutive quarter of occupancy growth) and TTM retention exceeding 85%.
Q4 research same-store NOI 30 bps Supported by occupancy gains from university tenants despite sector backdrop.
Leverage (net debt to EBITDA) 5.2x Best since 2012; organic growth plus equity-funded investments.

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicPrevious mentionCurrent periodTrend
Demographic inflection pointDemand strengthening from aging population.2026 marks the historic point baby boomers (nearly 70 million, wealthiest generation ever) start turning 80; over-80 population to grow 28% in five years and double in two decades; over 2 million people turning 80 in 2026.
Supply constraintsSupply near all-time lows.Only about 2,500 new senior housing units started in Q4 2025; rents need to grow 20%-30% to justify new construction, with a roughly three-year development cycle.
Investment pipeline and competitionActive pipeline, $2.5 billion closed in 2025.U.S. senior housing pipeline of $35 billion, growing and larger with more mid-sized deals; increased competition on marketed deals but Ventas pressing advantages (track record, repeat sellers, deep operator relationships); $800M+ already closed YTD 2026 with high confidence in $2.5 billion.
Ventas OI and operatorsPlatform deepening with operators.Partner with 43 operators; OI execution at all-time high with deeper collaboration via site visits, summits, dynamic pricing, NOI-driving CapEx; technology-agnostic platform; network effects widening the competitive moat.
Capital allocation and balance sheetEquity-funded investment strategy lowering leverage.Raised over $7 billion since start of 2025; $1.2 billion of unsettled equity; 8% dividend increase; leverage trend of deleveraging expected to continue; non-cash stock-based comp ($0.08) excluded from normalized FFO starting 2026.
Affordability and value propositionSenior housing provides valuable benefits.Residents can afford to live in communities almost seven times longer than the typical length of stay; baby boomers control about half the country's wealth; framed as an affordable replacement expense for living at home with in-home care.

Q&A Summary

Post the Brookdale reset, does triple net revert to roughly a 1%-1.5% business?
Bob Probst said more like 3% on average for escalators; the January Brookdale increase is outsized but a roughly 3% run rate applies outside of that.
On the $2.5 billion acquisition guidance, what are you seeing in the market and what would drive you below it?
Justin Hutchens said the pipeline is very active with momentum; about half of the $800 million closed YTD was off market. On marketed deals there is increased competition, but Ventas wins via track record of closing, repeat sellers, and deep and expanding operator relationships, getting more than its fair share.
How are you baking seasonality, weather, and flu into the occupancy guide?
Hutchens said the 270 bps occupancy guide assumes normal seasonality including weather and flu; winter brings more move-outs and fewer move-ins while the May-September key selling season brings outsized move-ins. The earlier comment on severe weather referred to expenses incorporated into Q1 and the full-year guide.
What are the lowest-hanging fruit to drive Brookdale transition growth, and how does Ventas OI help?
Hutchens said the 45 former Brookdale communities are large scale in markets with strong net absorption, now run by five new operators all with transition experience; a majority will have refreshes done by the key selling season. Modest growth in 2026, with 2027 and beyond the real ramp toward doubling NOI.
Where will SHOP cap rates trend in 2026 given competition?
Hutchens said given the asset class quality there is more competition and a drifting down in cap rates, reported under 7% in the supplemental; Ventas will report expectations as it closes deals. Cafaro added Ventas is highly competitively advantaged in making senior housing acquisitions.
Walk us through why FFO growth is 8% versus nearly 10% same-store, and G&A assumptions.
Probst said two key drivers explain the gap: the expiration of non-cash Brookdale amortization ($0.04 year-over-year) and refinancing $2.2 billion of maturing debt at higher rates. G&A is growing as Ventas invests behind the platform while staying focused on efficiency, with cash G&A in the low $150 million range.
How should flow-through margins trend as occupancy rises?
Hutchens said margins improve as occupancy goes up because operating leverage kicks in; expecting incremental margin in the 50s in 2026 around the low 90s occupancy, moving toward roughly 70% as the portfolio approaches 100% occupancy.

More on Ventas, Inc.

Reported 2026-02-06 · figures from the Ventas, Inc. Q4 2025 earnings call.

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