The Ensign Group Grows Operations in Colorado

Rhea-AI Summary

The Ensign Group (Nasdaq: ENSG) announced multiple acquisitions effective Dec 1, 2025: operations of two Colorado skilled nursing facilities—The Rehabilitation Center at Sandalwood (103 beds) and Edgewater Health and Rehabilitation (69 beds)—each under long‑term triple net leases with third‑party landlords.

On the same date Ensign acquired real estate and operations of Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (45 beds) in Kansas City, Kansas, with real estate purchased by Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT and operations leased to an Ensign affiliate. Ensign also acquired operations of Santa Rosa Care Center (144 beds) in Tucson, Arizona, under a long‑term triple net lease.

These transactions raise Ensign’s portfolio to 373 healthcare operations (including 47 senior living) across 17 states, with subsidiaries owning 156 real estate assets. Management said the company is actively seeking further real estate and operations acquisitions nationwide.

Positive

• Added 103‑bed Rehabilitation Center at Sandalwood in Colorado
• Added 69‑bed Edgewater Health and Rehabilitation in Colorado
• Acquired 45‑bed Willow Point operations with real estate held by Standard Bearer REIT
• Added 144‑bed Santa Rosa Care Center in Arizona
• Portfolio expanded to 373 healthcare operations across 17 states
• Subsidiaries own 156 real estate assets

Negative

• None.

Insights

Senior Healthcare M&A Analyst

Ensign expanded operations via four skilled‑nursing acquisitions and real‑estate leasing, increasing scale and geographic density.

Ensign acquired operations at The Rehabilitation Center at Sandalwood (103 beds, Wheat Ridge, Colorado) and Edgewater Health and Rehabilitation (69 beds, Lakewood, Colorado) effective December 1, 2025, and separately acquired operations at Santa Rosa Care Center (144 beds, Tucson, Arizona) and both real estate and operations tied to Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center (45 beds, Kansas City, Kansas) with the real estate held by its captive REIT and operations leased to an affiliated operator effective December 1, 2025. These deals add 361 beds across four facilities and raise Ensign’s operating count to 373 facilities, while Standard Bearer owns 156 real estate assets. The structure—operations acquisitions with long‑term triple net leases and a captive REIT buying property—keeps capital deployment flexible while preserving operating control and recurring lease income for the real‑estate arm.

The chief dependencies are integration of facility staff and care quality, lease terms with third‑party landlords, and the performance of newly acquired operations versus acquisition assumptions. The announcement cites existing local teams but provides no financials, occupancy rates, or payment terms; those missing items limit assessment of near‑term margin impact. Watch for operational KPIs such as occupancy, payer mix, and same‑store operating metrics and any future disclosures around lease yields or purchase prices.

Near term (next 90–180 days) monitor admissions and staffing continuity at the four facilities and any investor filings that disclose purchase prices, lease durations, or initial operating results. Over 12 months, track whether these Colorado additions reinforce the stated regional growth trend and whether Standard Bearer reports incremental real‑estate investment metrics; those disclosures will clarify the financial impact of this expansion.

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO, Calif., Dec. 02, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Ensign Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ENSG), the parent company of the Ensign™ group of companies, which invest in and provide skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies, other rehabilitative and healthcare services, and real estate, announced today that it acquired the operations of (i) “The Rehabilitation Center at Sandalwood”, a 103-bed skilled nursing facility located in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, and (ii) “Edgewater Health and Rehabilitation”, a 69-bed skilled nursing facility located in Lakewood, Colorado. Both facilities are subject to a long-term, triple net lease with a third-party landlord. This acquisition was effective as of December 1, 2025.

“These two facilities were perfect additions to our recent growth in Colorado,” said Barry Port, Ensign’s Chief Executive Officer. “Colorado is a fantastic state for us, and we expect these facilities to continue that trend,” he continued.

Dave Jorgensen, President of Endura Healthcare LLC, Ensign’s Colorado-based subsidiary, added, “Both facilities have fantastic teams, and we can’t wait to get to know them in addition to the residents and their families that we will be serving.”

In a separate transaction on the same day, Ensign announced that it acquired the real estate and operations of “Willow Point Rehabilitation and Nursing Center”, a 45-bed skilled nursing facility located in Kansas City, Kansas. The real estate was purchased by a subsidiary of Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc., Ensign’s captive real estate company, and operations were leased to an Ensign-affiliated operator, subject to a long-term lease effective as of December 1, 2025.

In another transaction on the same day, Ensign announced that it acquired the operations of “Santa Rosa Care Center”, a 144-bed skilled nursing facility located in Tucson, Arizona. The facility is operated by an Ensign affiliated operator and is subject to a long-term triple net lease. This acquisition was effective as of December 1, 2025.

These acquisitions bring Ensign’s growing portfolio to 373 healthcare operations, which includes 47 senior living operations, across 17 states. Ensign subsidiaries, including Standard Bearer, own 156 real estate assets. Mr. Port reaffirmed that Ensign is actively seeking opportunities to acquire real estate and to lease both well-performing and struggling skilled nursing, senior living and other healthcare related businesses throughout the United States.

About Ensign™

The Ensign Group, Inc.’s independent operating subsidiaries provide a broad spectrum of skilled nursing and senior living services, physical, occupational and speech therapies and other rehabilitative and healthcare services at 373 healthcare facilities in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Nevada, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wisconsin. More information about Ensign is available at http://www.ensigngroup.net.

Contact Information

The Ensign Group, Inc., (949) 487-9500, ir@ensignservices.net

SOURCE: The Ensign Group, Inc.

FAQ

What did Ensign (ENSG) announce on Dec 1, 2025 about Colorado operations?

Ensign acquired operations of two Colorado skilled nursing facilities: a 103‑bed facility in Wheat Ridge and a 69‑bed facility in Lakewood, effective Dec 1, 2025.

How did Ensign (ENSG) structure the Willow Point transaction in Kansas City on Dec 1, 2025?

Ensign acquired Willow Point operations (45 beds); the real estate was purchased by a Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT subsidiary and operations were leased to an Ensign‑affiliated operator under a long‑term lease.

How many total healthcare operations does Ensign (ENSG) have after the Dec 1, 2025 acquisitions?

After these transactions Ensign’s portfolio totals 373 healthcare operations, including 47 senior living operations across 17 states.

Are the newly acquired facilities leased or owned by Ensign (ENSG)?

The Colorado and Arizona acquisitions are operations subject to long‑term triple net leases with landlords; Willow Point real estate was purchased by an Ensign REIT subsidiary and leased to an Ensign operator.

How many real estate assets do Ensign subsidiaries own after the acquisitions?

Ensign subsidiaries, including Standard Bearer, own 156 real estate assets following these transactions.

Is Ensign (ENSG) seeking further acquisitions after Dec 1, 2025?

Yes; management reaffirmed that Ensign is actively seeking to acquire real estate and to lease skilled nursing, senior living and other healthcare businesses nationwide.