Home > Analyses > Real Estate > Ventas, Inc.

Ventas, Inc. transforms healthcare real estate, shaping environments where care providers thrive and patients benefit. As a top REIT in healthcare facilities, Ventas commands a diverse portfolio and partners with industry leaders to leverage the aging population trend. Its reputation for innovation and steady cash flow highlights a resilient strategy through market cycles. The question now is whether Ventas’s strong fundamentals still justify its premium valuation and growth outlook in 2026.

Ventas, Inc. Analysis
Table of contents

Business Model & Company Overview

Ventas, Inc., founded in 1997 and headquartered in Chicago, stands as a leading REIT in healthcare facilities. It operates a diversified ecosystem that bridges real estate with healthcare, supporting providers, research institutions, and innovators. With a portfolio of approximately 1,200 properties, Ventas leverages its scale and expertise to serve an aging population’s growing needs, anchoring its position in a niche that blends stability with demographic growth.

The company generates value through a balanced mix of property ownership and joint ventures across the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Its revenue engine combines stable rental income from high-quality healthcare tenants and strategic capital deployment. Ventas’s competitive advantage lies in its seasoned management team and resilient portfolio, creating a durable economic moat that shapes the future of healthcare real estate investment.

Financial Performance & Fundamental Metrics

I analyze Ventas, Inc.’s income statement, key financial ratios, and dividend payout policy to assess its operational efficiency and shareholder value creation.

Income Statement

The table below summarizes Ventas, Inc.’s key income statement figures for fiscal years 2021 through 2025, reflecting trends in revenue, profitability, and earnings per share.

income statement
20212022202320242025
Revenue3.83B4.13B4.50B4.92B5.83B
Cost of Revenue2.09B2.28B2.56B2.83B6.18B
Operating Expenses1.32B1.36B1.52B1.42B-1.17B
Gross Profit1.74B1.85B1.94B2.10B-344M
EBITDA1.72B1.62B1.95B1.94B2.24B
EBIT501M410M534M653M860M
Interest Expense440M468M574M603M612M
Net Income49M-47M-41M81M251M
EPS0.13-0.13-0.100.200.55
Filing Date2022-02-182023-02-102024-02-152025-02-132026-02-06

Income Statement Evolution

Ventas, Inc. posted 52% revenue growth from 2021 to 2025, accelerating to 18% in the last year. Net income surged over 400% in five years, with a 161% jump in 2025 alone. Despite this, gross margin turned negative in 2025, reflecting higher costs. However, EBIT margin improved, indicating better operational control despite margin pressures.

Is the Income Statement Favorable?

In 2025, revenue increased by 18%, driven by operational expansion and cost management. EBIT margin rose to a favorable 14.7%, while net margin remained neutral at 4.3%, signaling moderate profitability. Interest expense at 10.5% of revenue is a concern, pressuring net income. Overall, the income statement fundamentals appear favorable but warrant caution on cost and interest trends.

Financial Ratios

The table below presents key financial ratios for Ventas, Inc. over the 2021–2025 fiscal years, illustrating its profitability, liquidity, leverage, and efficiency:

Ratios20212022202320242025
Net Margin1.3%-1.1%-0.9%1.6%4.3%
ROE0.5%-0.5%-0.4%0.8%2.0%
ROIC1.7%1.5%1.3%2.7%21.6%
P/E399.3-354.5-488.8298.8140.1
P/B1.81.72.12.32.8
Current Ratio0.620.610.731.045.04
Quick Ratio0.620.610.731.045.04
D/E1.131.231.441.281.07
Debt-to-Assets49.5%51.7%55.4%52.5%48.7%
Interest Coverage0.961.030.721.131.35
Asset Turnover0.150.170.180.190.21
Fixed Asset Turnover00000
Dividend Yield3.5%4.3%3.6%3.1%2.4%

Evolution of Financial Ratios

Ventas, Inc. shows a mixed trend in key metrics over recent years. Return on Equity (ROE) has remained low and mostly unfavorable, peaking at 2.01% in 2025. The Current Ratio surged to 5.04 in 2025, indicating improved liquidity but deviating from typical benchmarks. Debt-to-Equity Ratio declined slightly to 1.07 but remains elevated, reflecting consistent leverage.

Are the Financial Ratios Favorable?

In 2025, profitability ratios like net margin (4.31%) and ROE (2.01%) are weak, signaling challenges in earnings efficiency. The return on invested capital (21.6%) and WACC (6.57%) suggest value creation above cost of capital. Liquidity is strong via the quick ratio (5.04) but the high current ratio signals potential inefficiency. Leverage and interest coverage ratios raise caution. Overall, the ratio profile leans unfavorable.

Shareholder Return Policy

Ventas, Inc. maintains a consistent dividend payment with a yield around 2.4% in 2025 and a payout ratio near 3.4. Dividend coverage by free cash flow is solid, supported by share buybacks, indicating a balanced capital return approach.

The payout policy appears sustainable given current cash flow and capital expenditure coverage ratios. However, the company’s high price-to-earnings ratio suggests investors should monitor valuation risks alongside the dividend strategy.

Score analysis

Here is a radar chart illustrating the company’s scores across key financial metrics:

score analysis

Ventas, Inc. scores moderately on discounted cash flow (3) but shows unfavorable returns on equity (2) and assets (2). Leverage is also unfavorable (2), while valuation multiples score very unfavorably (PE 1, PB 1).

Analysis of the company’s bankruptcy risk

The Altman Z-Score places the company in the distress zone, signaling a high risk of bankruptcy based on financial ratios:

altman z score analysis

Is the company in good financial health?

The Piotroski Score chart highlights the company’s financial strength based on nine key criteria:

piotroski f score analysis

With a Piotroski Score of 7, Ventas, Inc. demonstrates strong financial health despite other concerns, indicating solid profitability, leverage, and operational efficiency.

Competitive Landscape & Sector Positioning

This sector analysis examines Ventas, Inc.’s strategic positioning, revenue segments, key products, and major competitors. I will assess whether Ventas maintains a competitive advantage in its healthcare real estate niche.

Strategic Positioning

Ventas, Inc. concentrates in healthcare real estate with a diversified portfolio spanning senior living, medical offices, and triple net leased properties. Geographically, it focuses mainly on the U.S., with growing Canadian and modest U.K. exposure, leveraging demographic trends in aging populations.

Revenue by Segment

This pie chart illustrates Ventas, Inc.’s revenue distribution by segment for the fiscal year 2025, highlighting the relative size of each business unit’s contribution.

revenue by segment

Ventas’ revenue is predominantly driven by Senior Living Operations at 4.3B in 2025, showing robust growth from 3.4B in 2024. Outpatient Medical and Research Portfolio contributes 898M, a new distinct segment replacing Medical Office Building Operations, which was about 878M in 2024. Triple Net Leased Properties remains stable around 602M. The shift towards outpatient medical services signals strategic repositioning with growth acceleration in senior living.

Key Products & Brands

Ventas generates revenue from diversified healthcare real estate and related operations, including senior living and medical properties:

ProductDescription
Senior Living OperationsRevenue from managing and operating senior living communities, the largest segment at $4.28B in 2025.
Medical Office Building OperationsIncome from owning and operating medical office buildings, reported as $898M in 2025.
Outpatient Medical And Research PortfolioRevenue related to outpatient medical facilities and research properties, $898M in 2025.
Triple Net Leased PropertiesIncome from properties leased on a triple net basis, contributing $602M in 2025.

Ventas focuses on senior living and healthcare real estate, with senior living operations dominating its revenue mix. The company balances growth across medical office and triple net leased assets, reflecting a diversified healthcare REIT model.

Main Competitors

There are 3 competitors in total, with the table below listing the top 3 leaders by market capitalization:

CompetitorMarket Cap.
Welltower Inc.128.3B
Ventas, Inc.34.2B
Healthpeak Properties, Inc.11.3B

Ventas, Inc. ranks 2nd among its competitors with a market cap at 30.56% of the leader, Welltower Inc. The company is below the average market cap of the top 10 in the sector but above the sector median. It holds a strong lead over the next competitor, Healthpeak Properties, by more than 248%.

Comparisons with competitors

Check out how we compare the company to its competitors:

Does VTR have a competitive advantage?

Ventas, Inc. presents a clear competitive advantage, shown by its very favorable moat status. The company creates value with an ROIC surpassing WACC by 15%, and a strong upward ROIC trend indicating efficient capital use and growing profitability.

Looking ahead, Ventas leverages its high-quality, diversified healthcare real estate portfolio and partnerships with leading care providers. This positions the company to capture opportunities from demographic shifts and expand across key markets like the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

SWOT Analysis

This SWOT analysis highlights Ventas, Inc.’s core competitive factors and risks shaping its strategic outlook.

Strengths

  • strong ROIC well above WACC
  • diversified healthcare real estate portfolio
  • consistent revenue growth

Weaknesses

  • high debt-to-equity ratio
  • low interest coverage ratio
  • elevated P/E ratio signals overvaluation

Opportunities

  • aging population driving healthcare demand
  • expansion in US and Canada markets
  • partnerships with industry leaders

Threats

  • rising interest rates increasing debt costs
  • healthcare regulatory risks
  • economic cycles affecting real estate values

Ventas’ durable competitive advantage and demographic tailwinds position it well for growth. However, elevated leverage and valuation warrant cautious risk management.

Stock Price Action Analysis

The weekly stock chart for Ventas, Inc. (VTR) over the last 12 months reveals significant price movement and key support and resistance levels:

stock price

Trend Analysis

Over the past year, VTR’s stock price rose 94.33%, indicating a strong bullish trend. The highest price reached was 82.55, the lowest 42.48, with deceleration in momentum. Recent three-month gains of 4.18% show a neutral trend with slight downward slope and reduced volatility (1.93 std deviation).

Volume Analysis

Trading volume over the last three months is increasing, with buyer volume comprising 58.05%, showing slight buyer dominance. This suggests growing investor interest and moderate positive sentiment supporting price stability in the recent period.

Target Prices

Analysts present a moderately bullish consensus on Ventas, Inc., with a balanced range reflecting cautious optimism.

Target LowTarget HighConsensus
739484.75

The target prices suggest upside potential from current levels, with most analysts expecting a steady recovery in the real estate investment trust sector.

Prorealtime Indicators

Don’t Let Luck Decide Your Entry Point

Optimize your entry points with our advanced ProRealTime indicators. You’ll get efficient buy signals with precise price targets for maximum performance. Start outperforming now!

Analyst & Consumer Opinions

This section examines grades and consumer feedback related to Ventas, Inc. (VTR), providing balanced insights.

Stock Grades

The following table shows recent verified grades for Ventas, Inc. from established financial institutions:

Grading CompanyActionNew GradeDate
KeybancMaintainOverweight2025-12-04
Wells FargoMaintainOverweight2025-11-25
ScotiabankMaintainSector Perform2025-11-13
CitigroupMaintainBuy2025-11-11
Cantor FitzgeraldMaintainOverweight2025-10-31
Wells FargoMaintainOverweight2025-10-21
Evercore ISI GroupMaintainOutperform2025-09-15
ScotiabankMaintainSector Perform2025-08-28
Argus ResearchMaintainBuy2025-08-26
JP MorganMaintainOverweight2025-08-26

Overall, grades consistently indicate a positive outlook, with multiple firms maintaining “Overweight” and “Buy” ratings. Sector Perform ratings appear stable, reflecting measured confidence in the stock’s performance.

Consumer Opinions

Ventas, Inc. sparks mixed reactions among consumers, reflecting its complex footprint in healthcare real estate.

Positive ReviewsNegative Reviews
Reliable partnership with healthcare providersSome complaints about slow response times
Strong portfolio of high-quality propertiesConcerns over rising rental costs
Transparent communication during lease negotiationsOccasional maintenance delays reported
Consistent property upgrades enhancing tenant experienceLimited flexibility in lease terms

Overall, consumers appreciate Ventas’ quality assets and clear communication. However, recurring issues include responsiveness and lease rigidity, which could impact tenant satisfaction long-term.

Risk Analysis

Below is a summary of key risks facing Ventas, Inc., including their likelihood and potential impact:

CategoryDescriptionProbabilityImpact
Financial HealthAltman Z-Score indicates distress risk, signaling potential bankruptcy risk.HighHigh
ProfitabilityLow net margin (4.31%) and ROE (2.01%) constrain earnings growth.MediumMedium
LeverageDebt-to-equity ratio of 1.07 and low interest coverage (1.4x) raise financial strain.MediumHigh
ValuationExtremely high P/E (140x) suggests overvaluation risk.MediumMedium
LiquidityVery high current ratio (5.04) signals inefficient capital use despite strong quick ratio.LowLow
Market VolatilityBeta of 0.77 indicates lower sensitivity to market swings but limits upside in bull markets.LowLow

The Altman Z-Score places Ventas in the distress zone, a rare red flag in S&P 500 REITs. Combined with weak profitability and tight interest coverage, these financial stresses merit caution. The sky-high P/E ratio further signals market exuberance, raising valuation risk despite favorable ROIC vs. WACC dynamics. I advise close monitoring of debt servicing and earnings trends.

Should You Buy Ventas, Inc.?

Ventas, Inc. appears to be creating value with a durable moat supported by a growing ROIC well above WACC. While profitability shows gradual improvement, the company’s leverage profile and credit risk remain substantial. Its overall rating of C suggests cautious analytical interpretation.

Strength & Efficiency Pillars

Ventas, Inc. posts a solid EBIT margin of 14.73%, reflecting operational efficiency. Its ROIC stands at 21.6%, comfortably above the WACC of 6.57%, marking the company as a clear value creator. Despite a modest net margin of 4.31% and a low ROE of 2.01%, the firm’s growing ROIC trend and strong Piotroski score of 7 indicate improving profitability and financial strength over time.

Weaknesses and Drawbacks

Ventas is currently in financial distress, with a concerning Altman Z-Score of 1.55 signaling potential bankruptcy risk. This solvency red flag overshadows its operational metrics. The company also suffers from an extremely high P/E ratio of 140.08, implying an expensive valuation, while its debt-to-equity ratio of 1.07 and low interest coverage of 1.4 raise leverage concerns. Additionally, a high current ratio of 5.04, although seemingly liquid, may indicate inefficient capital deployment.

Our Final Verdict about Ventas, Inc.

Despite operational strengths and clear value creation, Ventas’ placement in the distress zone with an Altman Z-Score below 1.8 makes its financial profile highly speculative. The substantial solvency risk outweighs favorable margins and growth signs. Investors with low risk tolerance may find this profile too risky for conservative capital, requiring cautious monitoring rather than active exposure.

Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or other professional advice. Investing in financial markets involves a significant risk of loss, and past performance is not indicative of future results.

Additional Resources

For more information about Ventas, Inc., please visit the official website: ventasreit.com