REITs rebound in Feb
REITs reclaimed top asset‑allocation last month after a February surge of +7.92% (YTD +11.2%), led by Equinix jumping about +19.3% on AI data‑center demand. (x.com) Analysts are flagging healthcare and seniors‑housing as seeing ~+13.7% earnings growth for 2026, which is reshaping where income investors are looking. (x.com)
Equinix’s Feb. 11 earnings package included 2026 revenue guidance of $10.12–$10.22 billion and an AFFO range that management said would rise to roughly $41.93–$42.74 per share, a set of figures that triggered a multiday share rally. (investor.equinix.com) Company commentary that a majority of its largest new deals in late 2025 were tied to AI workloads was cited by analysts as the core catalyst behind the February rerating of data‑center REITs. (investor.wedbush.com) Welltower’s fourth‑quarter filing showed 2025 normalized FFO of $5.29 per share and introduced 2026 normalized FFO guidance of $6.09–$6.25, a management‑led projection that implies materially stronger FFO next year. (welltower.com) American Healthcare REIT highlighted same‑store NOI growth and issued NFFO guidance for 2026 while sell‑side notes such as Scotiabank have been modeling double‑digit FFOPS growth for select seniors‑housing REITs. (ir.americanhealthcarereit.com) Broadly, global real‑estate benchmarks outperformed in the first two months of 2026, with the FTSE EPRA Nareit Developed index posting double‑digit total returns through February and drawing fresh inflows to listed property. (article.wn.com) Investor surveys and NIC MAP data show improving fundamentals in senior living — occupancy recovering toward roughly 90% and transaction activity rising — which industry participants say is redirecting institutional capital into healthcare and seniors‑housing assets in 2026. (jll.com)
