Senior housing REIT Ventas plunges to over decade low amid Covid-19 pandemic

Sabra Health Care REIT

12/03/2020 16:47

** Ventas Inc  VTR.N  plunges and is among the biggest S&P
500 losers Thurs as coronavirus pandemic grips markets  .N 
    ** VTR down 22.8% at $29.29 on Thurs. Shares at lowest
levels since Jul 2009 and now yield >10%
    ** Stock has halved this month, erasing about $9 bln of
market cap
    ** On Tues, Jefferies double-downgraded VTR to
"underperform", saying senior housing sector is most at risk
amid widespread outbreak of the virus, adding that leasing
demand may weaken given deteriorating public perception
 urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL1N2B30FC
    ** Other senior housing operators also falling on Thurs:
Sabra Health Care REIT  SBRA.O  down 22%, Welltower Inc  WELL.N 
and CareTrust REIT  CTRE.O  both down ~18%, LTC Properties
 LTC.N  off ~14%
    ** Coronavirus deaths have exceeded 4,700 worldwide; in
U.S., there have been 38 deaths and 1,350 confirmed cases so
far, according to a Reuters tally  urn:newsml:reuters.com:*:nL4N2AY3AS

 (Reporting by Lance Tupper)
 ((lance.tupper.tr.com@reuters.net
lance.tupper@tr.com 646-223-5017))