Stockchase Opinions

Joshua VargheseChartwell Retirement ResidencesCSH.UN.TOBUYOct 08, 2024

A buyout possible?

A high-quality company in seniors living, benefiting from aging demographics. Same-location growth is impressive. The stock's momentum can continue. A caveat: the retirement space is vulnerable to disruption, given that no senior looks forward to entering a retirement home. But seniors are healthier now and they have more options. This trend will continue. So competition could enter this space, not now, but in the future. And yes, CSH is attractive to a private buyer. It's possible.

$15.04

Stock price when the opinion was issued

$20.20

As of May 29, 2026. Market Open.

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BUY

Likes the industry on long-term demographics, and they're a leader. Great brand. Good place to have $$ over the next 5-10 years.

BUY
Question about Sienna

She owns Chartwell instead, because all their homes are private homes with no government units. Likes the aging demographic and there's a shortage of retirement homes. Also, there are few beds being added.  CSH's occupancy rate is above 95% vs. below 80% during Covid. CSH is buying companies and selling old properties. 

TOP PICK

Focused exclusively on private-pay retirement side. Great growth story. Discounted valuation. Over 95% occupied and going higher. Margins increasing, which means double-digit compounded annual earnings growth rate through 2028. Yield is 3.05%.

(Analysts’ price target is $25.27)
TOP PICK

Great fundamentals including a 4% CAGR, an aging population, boast leading occupancy of 95%, so can raise rents by 4%, while keeping expenses below 4%. Margins are improving. Are in the sweet spot. Sees a lot of upside.

(Analysts’ price target is $22.90)
DON'T BUY

Follows quite closely. Has owned in the past, but not currently. Being a REIT, it's going to grow aggressively by developing projects and buying other companies. So in a downturn in the economy, such as the pandemic, it won't have retained any capital. Instead, they'll have to raise equity, and that's really dilutive to shareholders at a really bad time.

If you're a corporation in the real estate space, you control your destiny a little more.

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Curated by Allan Tong since 2019.
99+ opinions with 4.15 rating.

TOP PICK

A rare winner in the battered REIT space. It's rallied nearly 30% over the past 12 months and over 33% so far this year. Aging demographics and a shortage of new retirement homes continue to drive this chain. Its occupancy rate is now 93% and will likely touch 95%. CSH continues to acquire homes and absorb them into their network. Some concerns: the PE is currently over 100x, while peer, Sienna Senior Living, trades at 46x.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Oct 31/24, Up 34%)

Phenomenal growth in the space. NAV is his firm's "north star", and the north star just keeps moving. On track to 95% occupancy, at 93% right now. Acquiring homes in an accretive manner. Sees great growth over the next year.

WATCH

Most favourable sector among the REITs is probably seniors housing like CSH.UN. That sector has risks, such as liability issues during pandemic. Occupancy pretty close to objective of 95%. Demographics are in its favour, people will move there because they need to not because they want to. This would be the one she'd pick to consider.

BUY
CSH.UN vs. SIA

Supply/demand in the space is good. People usually move in to these places around age 80, and 2025 is the very beginning of baby boomers turning 80. This should really drive demand. Properties are hard to build, also tough to operate, so you really need good management. Entirely retirement, so a little more risk but also more upside. Does better when things in the sector are good.

SIA has a mix of retirement and long-term care, which is government funded, so it's always full. More bond-like, not a lot of growth but really predictable. Does better when things are weaker in the sector.

HOLD

Since Covid very little new development in the space, yet we all keep getting older. Likes it here a lot. Continued visibility to 3 years of upside. 90% occupancy, with target of 95%. Sees continued growth, especially in Quebec. 

COMMENT

They're the best Canadian operator in this space, but there are many sophisticated private ones as well. The competition is fierce. Also, it will get harder to staff these places. Thirdly, there's the uncertainty over interest rates. He looked at during the pandemic and knew it would do well after the pandemic, but passed for these reasons. CSH has done well since then and will continue to do well, but isn't sure what will drive it much higher. It's a steady eddy, a good company, but unfortunately one he passed on.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Apr 16/24, Up 43%)

Great story. Limited supply. Canada is vastly under-invested in seniors' retirement housing. See his Top Picks.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Mar 27/24, Up 40%)

91% occupancy, aiming for 95% by year's end, which is very high-margin growth. Great position to add to portfolio in an accretive way. Still lots of upside. He expects Q1 report will show positive balance sheet developments.

BUY ON WEAKNESS

There's talk that the stock could break out of its current range, possibly. But he wonders about the direction of interest rates both here and abroad. Either hold if you already own, or buy on dips. Good job if you already own.

PAST TOP PICK
(A Top Pick Nov 30/23, Up 53%)

Sees more upside from here. Occupancy levels have crept back up to over 90%. Fantastic demand profile, over 4% CAGR. New construction is near-low.