On February 1, 2026, The Ensign Group completed a series of coordinated transactions acquiring both real estate and operational control of four skilled nursing facilities: The Chateau Waco (123 beds) in Waco, Texas; Wylie Oaks Healthcare and Rehabilitation (106 beds) in Wylie, Texas; Sunset Valley Rehabilitation and Healthcare Center (80 beds) in Littlefield, Texas; and Timber Ridge Health and Rehabilitation (48 beds) in Stevens Point, Wisconsin. In a separate but concurrent deal, Ensign acquired operations only at Agave Grove Post Acute (225 beds) in Glendale, Arizona under a long-term, triple-net lease with a third-party landlord. These transactions expand Ensign’s direct operating presence in three of its most mature markets and add more than 560 total beds to its platform in one day.

Each real estate portfolio transaction was structured through subsidiaries of Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc., Ensign’s internally managed captive real estate vehicle. The four property purchases increase Standard Bearer’s owned assets to 160 healthcare real estate locations and cluster additional high-quality buildings alongside existing Texas and Wisconsin holdings. All facilities are subject to new long-term leases with Ensign-affiliated tenants, reinforcing predictable rental income streams while maintaining operational alignment under Ensign management.

With these acquisitions effective February 1, Ensign’s total platform now comprises 378 healthcare operations, including 47 senior living communities, across 17 states. The combined bed count rises to over 28,000 licensed beds, supported by Ensign’s network of specialist therapy and rehabilitation services. CEO Barry Port reaffirmed a disciplined acquisition strategy focused on both well-performing and under-managed assets, targeting markets where Ensign can leverage regional clusters to drive margin improvement and revenue synergies. Ensign continues to maintain an investment-grade credit profile, underscored by its captive REIT structure and conservative leverage policy, positioning the company for ongoing strategic growth throughout 2026 and beyond.