Korea Investment CORP Acquires 43,069 Shares of Welltower Inc. $WELL

Key Points

• Korea Investment CORP increased its stake in Welltower by 5.7%, buying 43,069 shares to hold 800,474 shares (about 0.12% of the company) valued at $142.6 million at quarter-end.
• Welltower beat quarterly expectations, reporting $1.45 EPS vs. $1.44 estimate and revenue of $3.18 billion (up 41.3% year-over-year), and set FY2026 guidance of $6.09–$6.25 EPS while analysts' consensus target is $224.71.
• Dividend and valuation: the company declared a $0.74 quarterly dividend (annualized $2.96, 1.5% yield) but has a high payout ratio of 211.43% and trades at a market cap of $142.4 billion with a P/E of 145.8.

Korea Investment CORP increased its stake in Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL - Free Report) by 5.7% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 800,474 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after buying an additional 43,069 shares during the period. Korea Investment CORP owned 0.12% of Welltower worth $142,596,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in WELL. Munich Reinsurance Co Stock Corp in Munich bought a new position in shares of Welltower during the third quarter valued at approximately $176,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. lifted its stake in Welltower by 220.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriflex Group Inc. now owns 1,623 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 1,117 shares during the period. Angeles Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in Welltower by 7.8% in the third quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,842 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $328,000 after purchasing an additional 133 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its stake in shares of Welltower by 0.6% in the 3rd quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 31,778 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $5,661,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Welltower by 84.0% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 443,852 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $79,068,000 after purchasing an additional 202,636 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.80% of the company's stock.

Welltower Price Performance

Shares of WELL stock opened at $204.09 on Friday. The stock's 50-day moving average is $195.27 and its 200 day moving average is $186.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 3.46 and a quick ratio of 3.46. Welltower Inc. has a 1-year low of $130.29 and a 1-year high of $216.43. The company has a market cap of $142.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 145.78, a PEG ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 0.82.

Welltower (NYSE:WELL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 10th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.44 by $0.01. Welltower had a return on equity of 2.46% and a net margin of 8.64%.The company had revenue of $3.18 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.93 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.13 EPS. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 41.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Welltower has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.090-6.25 EPS. Research analysts predict that Welltower Inc. will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Welltower Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be paid a $0.74 dividend. This represents a $2.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.5%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. Welltower's payout ratio is currently 211.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have issued reports on WELL. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Welltower from $200.00 to $215.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 18th. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Welltower from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "hold (c)" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 17th. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Welltower from $216.00 to $231.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and set a $231.00 target price on shares of Welltower in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price target on Welltower from $207.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, ten have issued a Buy rating, three have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $224.71.

Welltower Company Profile

Welltower Inc NYSE: WELL is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires and manages real estate serving the health care industry. The company specializes in healthcare infrastructure, owning and operating a diversified portfolio of senior housing, post-acute and long-term care communities, and outpatient medical properties. Welltower's assets are designed to support the delivery of health care services through a combination of leased properties, joint ventures, and other capital arrangements with health care operators and providers.

The company's property types include assisted living, memory care, independent living and skilled nursing facilities, as well as medical office buildings and other outpatient-care real estate such as ambulatory surgery centers and specialty clinics.

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