Chartwell Retirement Residences (CSH.UN.TO)

Owns shares in the company - has owned for many years.
Long term outlook for senior living is favorable.
Rising costs due to inflation starting to fall.
Occupancy rates recovering after Covid-19 (~80%).
Slow recovery after Covid-19.

Free cashflow seems to be inflecting. Last quarter was in line. Net operating income was up and moving higher. Occupancy up. Looks to be in the midst of a turnaround. Reasonable valuation of 14.9x. Sets up well from a PEG level. Caution: because debt matters, if inflation and interest rates stay high or go higher, this may not be the best name to own. Yield is 5.96%.

Interest-sensitive REIT, plus dramatically impacted by Covid. Reasonable valuation at 17x FFO, still lots of upside. Lots of upside to occupancy. Demographics are in their favour, it'll just take time. Attractive dividend yield around 6%.

Pandemic challenges continue, especially for labour. Good, long-term business. Costs have increased. Demand is still there. Starting to come back. Debt. Won't see dividend increases soon. If it goes up, take some money off the table. Better places to put your money.

Chart shows it's just starting to turn around from its downtrend. Would definitely recommend.

In very different sectors. Both trade at wide discount to NAV. Neither has catalysts on horizon. CSH.UN at risk of cutting distribution, which is not being covered due to lower occupancy. CSH trustees see growth coming, but can it recover occupancy levels lost during Covid? He's watching that, as it's hard to invest in the face of a possible cut. D.UN is in an extremely tough sector. Office space, globally, has suffered with work from home. Office sector is not dead, but vacancy rates are in high teens and climbing. A good operator, Dream still owns good office buildings, especially in Toronto. 

Going out a few years, there's a lack of homes and beds. Will be more growth in this area. Great demographic play, will do very well over next little while. They're trying different formats, which is very appealing. 

Very tough time with Covid-19 (occupancy rate way down).
Expecting company to recover slowly.
Business of senior living not going anywhere.
Labor shortage concern also an issue, but is a problem being worked on.
Will continue to own shares.

It is in a difficult spot since retirement homes' occupancy rates have declined during the pandemic. Also expenses are under pressure, higher wages, etc. In the U.S. there is a recovery but not in Canada. For Chartwell the difference between income and pay-outs is not covered.