Company Description
Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT) is a real estate investment trust that focuses on healthcare and human service-related properties. According to the company’s public disclosures, the Trust invests in and leases facilities such as acute care hospitals, behavioral healthcare hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, sub-acute care facilities, surgery centers, childcare centers, medical office buildings, specialty facilities and free-standing emergency departments. Its investments are located in multiple U.S. states and are managed as a single reportable segment centered on healthcare real estate.
The Trust’s portfolio consists of dozens of properties across the United States. Recent press releases state that Universal Health Realty Income Trust has investments or commitments in more than seventy properties located in twenty-one states. These properties generate lease revenue and other related income from both facilities operated by Universal Health Services, Inc. ("UHS") and facilities leased to non-related parties. The Trust also holds financing receivables from UHS and interests in limited liability companies that own additional healthcare real estate.
Business model and revenue sources
Universal Health Realty Income Trust’s business model is based on owning, developing and financing healthcare and human service-related real estate and leasing those assets to operators. The Trust reports lease revenue from UHS-operated facilities, lease revenue from non-related parties, other revenue associated with both UHS and non-related party facilities, and interest income on financing leases related to UHS facilities. These revenue streams are disclosed in the Trust’s quarterly financial results.
The Trust also participates in unconsolidated limited liability companies that own healthcare properties, recognizing equity in income from these entities. As a REIT, the Trust highlights funds from operations ("FFO") as a non-GAAP performance measure, in addition to net income determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Company communications explain that FFO is computed in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT") and is used by management and investors to evaluate operating performance by adjusting for depreciation, amortization and certain non-recurring or non-operational items.
Property types and geographic footprint
Based on recent press releases, Universal Health Realty Income Trust’s portfolio includes:
- Acute care hospitals
- Behavioral healthcare hospitals
- Rehabilitation hospitals
- Sub-acute care facilities
- Surgery centers
- Childcare centers
- Medical office buildings and medical/office buildings
- Specialty facilities
- Free-standing emergency departments
The Trust’s properties are located in twenty-one states. In addition to its existing portfolio, the company has disclosed commitments related to new development projects, such as a planned medical office building in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, to be located on the campus of an acute care hospital owned and operated by a wholly owned subsidiary of UHS. For this project, the Trust has entered into a ground lease and a master flex lease agreement with a UHS subsidiary and has engaged another UHS subsidiary as project manager.
Relationship with Universal Health Services, Inc.
Universal Health Realty Income Trust has a close relationship with Universal Health Services, Inc. UHS acts as the advisor to the Trust, as described in UHS public disclosures. The Trust pays advisory fees to UHS, which are reported as a separate expense line in the Trust’s financial statements. A portion of the Trust’s lease revenue and other revenue is derived from facilities operated by UHS, and the Trust also reports a financing receivable and lease and other receivables from UHS.
The Trust’s filings and press releases describe advisory fees to UHS, lease revenue from UHS facilities, and interest income on financing leases related to UHS facilities. The Trust also notes that the operations and financial results of its tenants, including UHS and other operators, can materially affect its own results.
Capital structure and credit facilities
Universal Health Realty Income Trust discloses that it maintains a credit agreement that provides a revolving line of credit. As of various quarter-end dates, the Trust reports outstanding line of credit borrowings and available borrowing capacity under a credit agreement with a stated maximum commitment amount and a scheduled expiration date. The Trust has the option to extend the credit agreement for additional six-month periods, subject to the terms of the agreement.
The Trust’s balance sheets show line of credit borrowings, mortgage notes payable that are non-recourse to the Trust, ground lease liabilities, tenant reserves, deposits, deferred and prepaid rents, and other liabilities. Equity consists of common shares of beneficial interest, capital in excess of par value, cumulative net income, cumulative dividends and accumulated other comprehensive income.
Dividends and REIT profile
Universal Health Realty Income Trust identifies itself as a real estate investment trust and regularly announces quarterly dividends. Recent press releases describe dividends declared and paid per share each quarter, as well as periodic increases in the quarterly dividend amount. The Trust’s communications also discuss that FFO and related non-GAAP measures are used alongside net income to evaluate the Trust’s ability to support distributions to shareholders, while emphasizing that FFO should not be viewed as an alternative to GAAP measures or as a direct measure of liquidity.
As a healthcare-focused REIT, the Trust’s performance is influenced by factors affecting healthcare providers and the broader healthcare industry. Company disclosures highlight that changes in government healthcare programs, staffing availability at tenant facilities, regulatory developments, macroeconomic conditions affecting patient volumes and payer mix, and changes in interest rates can all impact tenant operations and, in turn, the Trust’s financial results.
Risk considerations and operating environment
In its press releases, Universal Health Realty Income Trust outlines various risks that may affect future operations and financial performance. These include potential reductions in federal funding for Medicaid programs, changes in healthcare regulations, shortages of clinical staff experienced by tenants, and macroeconomic conditions that may affect patient volumes and reimbursement patterns. The Trust also notes the impact of higher interest rates on its borrowing costs and access to capital markets.
The Trust cautions that forward-looking statements are subject to numerous factors beyond its control and refers investors to risk factor discussions and forward-looking statement sections in its filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Form 10-K and Form 10-Q reports. The Trust states that it undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements except as required by law.
Regulatory reporting and segment information
Universal Health Realty Income Trust is organized as a Maryland entity and files reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission under Commission File Number 1-9321. In its public descriptions, the Trust indicates that its investments aggregate into a single reportable segment focused on healthcare and human service-related real estate. The Trust periodically files current reports on Form 8-K to furnish earnings releases and other material information.
Investors analyzing UHT stock often review the Trust’s lease revenue composition between UHS and non-related parties, its use of FFO and other non-GAAP metrics, its credit facility terms and borrowing levels, and the composition of its portfolio across different types of healthcare facilities and states.