National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) Q2 2023 Earnings Call Transcript

Austin Wurschmidt: So, based on July results and kind of some of the sales you’ve completed, do you expect deferrals going forward to return to a 1Q run rate or even improve based on the additional sales that you have in the pipeline? Can you just give some direction around that, your expectation for that figure moving forward?

John Spaid: Austin, this is John Spaid. I’ll do my best. Concessions are still in guidance, but we’re trying to move as quickly as we can to put an end to them. And that was part of our strategy in the second quarter. So, one of the things that is happening to us is we have cash basis tenants that slow payoffs during the quarter, and we’re trying to recover those rents in subsequent quarters. And we’re trying to get them back on even payment stream as quickly as we can. So that’s the upside to our guidance that we can recover the rents owed to us that weren’t paid in the second quarter that were part of our missing NOI and then get them to pay what they owe us consistently on time moving forward. And then the risk is that the senior housing industry continues to have some bumps, and they’re not able to do that. So, we’re working as hard as we can to achieve that.

Austin Wurschmidt: Got it. That’s helpful. And then I wanted to hit on Bickford for a moment. Occupancy, I think, was stable. Coverage continues to improve, and it’s now been over a year since you added the language about doubting they can remain a going concern. But I guess do you feel like they’re through the worst of it at this point? Or are there other hurdles that they still need to climb? What’s sort of the latest update there?

Kevin Pascoe : Sure. Austin, this is Kevin. I think NHI is through what it needed to do. What you’re seeing the portfolio continue to heal, occupancy improving, and coverage improving. So, we’ve done the work that we needed to. I think as any good steward of the portfolio, there’s always some element of reviewing and seeing if there’s some properties that make sense to continue to hold. But for now, Bickford is in We think that there’s still some opportunity for them to maximize their business and they can work with their other financial partners on that, whether it makes sense for them to sell some properties or maybe move some debt net around. So, they’re not — I wouldn’t couch them as completely done with what they’re doing as a business. But as it relates to NHI, our structure, and our relationship, I feel like we’re on pretty good footing. And as I said, you continue to see them improve quarter-over-quarter.

Austin Wurschmidt: Appreciate the comment. Thank you.

Kevin Pascoe : Thanks, Austin.

Operator: We’ll proceed with our next question on the line other follow-up from Juan Sanabria with BMO Capital Markets. Please go ahead.

Juan Sanabria : Eric, I was just curious if you could expand a little bit on those Bickford comments. I mean you sounded a little bit more cautious about their ability to pay solvent, I guess, given other debt. Is that — now those risks are those waning? Just curious on whether or not there may eventually be an element of transitions because the operator is no longer profitable if they lose other assets outside of your relationship with them.

Eric Mendelsohn : That’s a fair question, Juan. Look, our portfolio is doing great, and it would be very simple for them if they only had our buildings and their home health, and their pharmacy. It would be a money-making venture. They do have other buildings that have variable rate debt. And through no fault of their own, that debt has ratcheted up. So, they have unforeseen expenses due to that debt, and they’re working with their banks to either refinance them to HUD or sell them or run them better. So, all of that is ongoing, and we’re monitoring that closely. And I would say that based on what they’re doing with our portfolio, things are getting slightly better.