Back
23.01.2024
MPT Bond Yields Surge Amidst Tenant Struggles
MPT Bond Yields Surge Amidst Tenant Struggles
140

Medical Properties Trust's bond yield surged due to Steward Health Care System's financial struggles, with the major tenant $50 million behind on rent; the company is collaborating on an action plan to improve liquidity and minimize exposure to unpaid rent.

The MPW 5.000 15-Oct-2027 USD bond (US55342UAH77) has witnessed a remarkable shift in its yield, soaring by 295 basis points to 13.7% over the past month.

Yield curve illustration showing the performance of the MPW bond (US55342UAH77), with a 5.000% coupon, due on October 15, 2027, in USD.

The driving force behind this yield movement is the financial struggle of Steward Health Care System, a major tenant of Medical Properties Trust. Steward was reported to be approximately $50 million behind on its rent payments to MPT at the end of the previous year. MPT, in a news release on January 4, revealed that it is actively collaborating with Steward and its advisers to formulate an action plan aimed at bolstering Steward's liquidity, restoring its balance sheet, and minimizing MPT's exposure to unpaid rent.

Steward's delayed rent payments, as disclosed by MPT in the third quarter of 2023, prompted concerns. Despite obtaining additional working capital financing and selling noncore business assets in the fourth quarter, Steward's liquidity remained adversely affected by changes in vendor payment terms. Steward has been making partial monthly rent payments, but the liquidity challenges have led to the intensification of efforts to improve collections and governance.

As part of the action plan, Steward is actively exploring the potential sale or re-tenanting of certain hospital operations and divestiture of noncore operations. Additionally, Steward is committed to finding a third-party partner for its managed care business, with proceeds earmarked to repay outstanding obligations to MPT.

Medical Properties Trust has consented to the deferral of unpaid rent as of December 31, along with a tapering deferral of approximately $55 million of 2024 rents until June 30 or the completion of anticipated asset sales. Partial cash rent payments are expected to resume in February, providing some relief. Despite these measures, the impact of Steward's financial challenges has reverberated, causing a 31.3% drop in Medical Properties Trust stock to its lowest level since 2009 as the REIT takes steps to recover uncollected rents from its troubled tenant.

The highlighted bond holds a 'Ba2' rating from Moody's and a 'BB-' rating from S&P.

As of September 30, 2023, S&P Global Ratings-adjusted fixed-charge coverage declined to 2.6x from the previous year's 3.2x, with potential deterioration from refinancing efforts, while S&P Global Ratings-adjusted debt to EBITDA increased to 8.8x from 7.7x a year earlier and 8.7x at year-end 2022.

About Medical Properties Trust

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is a self-advised real estate investment trust that specializes in investing, acquiring, and developing net-leased healthcare facilities. The company's diverse property portfolio encompasses rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, hospitals catering to women and children, regional and community hospitals, medical office buildings, and other facilities with a single-discipline focus. Established on August 27, 2003, Medical Properties Trust, Inc. is headquartered in Birmingham, AL. The company has a market capitalization of $1.84 billion as of January 19, 2024.

This article does not constitute investment advice or personal recommendation. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. Bondfish does not recommend using the data and information provided as the only basis for making any investment decision. You should not make any investment decisions without first conducting your own research and considering your own financial situation.