8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 16, 2018 (February 16, 2018)

National Health Investors, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Maryland

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

001-10822	62-1470956
(Commission File No.)	(I.R.S. Employer
	Identification No.)

222 Robert Rose Drive

Murfreesboro, Tennessee 37129

(Address of principal executive offices)

(615) 890-9100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

[ ]	Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ]	Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ]	Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On February 16, 2018, National Health Investors, Inc. issued a press release announcing its earnings for the quarter ended December 31, 2017. A copy of the press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

Exhibit Index

Number	Exhibit
99.1	Fourth Quarter Earnings Press Release, dated February 16, 2018

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

National Health Investors, Inc.

By: /s/ Roger R. Hopkins

Name: Roger R. Hopkins

Title: Chief Accounting Officer

Date: February 16, 2018

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99

Contact: Roger R. Hopkins, Chief Accounting Officer

Phone: (615) 890-9100

NHI Announces Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – (February 16, 2018) National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE:NHI) announced today its net income attributable to common stockholders, its Funds From Operations (“FFO”), its Normalized Funds From Operations and its Normalized Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) for the three months and year endedDecember 31, 2017.

Q4 2017 Highlights

• Announced $49.9 million in real estate acquisitions and loans; $215.2 million for the full year

• Maintained low leverage balance sheet at 4.2x net debt-to-annualized adjusted EBITDA

• Portfolio lease coverage remains strong at 1.66x

• GAAP net income of $.90 per diluted common share for the fourth quarter; $3.87 for the full year

• Normalized FFO up 6.3% over fourth quarter 2016; up 8.6% for the full year

• Normalized AFFO up 5.2% over fourth quarter 2016; up 8.2% for the full year

2018 Guidance

The Company currently expects Normalized FFO for 2018 to be in the range of $5.45 to $5.51 per diluted common share and Normalized AFFO to be in the range of $4.99 to $5.03 per diluted common share. The Company’s guidance range for the full year 2018, with underlying assumptions and timing of certain transactions, is set forth and reconciled below:

	Full-Year 2018 Range
	Low			High
Net income per diluted share attributable to common stockholders	$	3.79		$	3.83
Plus: Depreciation	1.66			1.68
Normalized FFO per diluted common share	$	5.45		$	5.51
Less: Straight-line rental income	(0.53		)	(0.55		)
Plus: Amortization of debt issuance costs	0.05			0.05
Plus: Amortization of original issue discount	0.02			0.02
Normalized AFFO per diluted common share	$	4.99		$	5.03

The Company’s guidance range reflects the existence of volatile economic conditions, but does not assume any material deterioration in tenant credit quality and/or performance of its portfolio. The Company has completed $28 million of new investments since December 31, 2017. The Company currently estimates it will close an additional $65 million of new lease investments by mid-year at initial lease rates of approximately 7% and will fund other commitments and new investments of $80 million throughout 2018 at initial yields of approximately 8%. The guidance is based on a number of assumptions, many of which are outside the Company’s control and all of which are subject to change. The Company’s guidance range allows for the uncertainty inherent in the structure and timing of the financing required to fund previously announced investments and any pending new investments. The Company’s guidance may change if actual results vary from these assumptions.

Financial Results

• Net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $.90, a decrease of 12.6% from the same period in the prior year. Net income attributable to common stockholders per diluted common share for the year endedDecember 31, 2017, was $3.87, unchanged from the same period in the prior year.

Exhibit 99

• Normalized FFO per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $1.35, an increase of 6.3% over the same period in the prior year. Normalized FFO per diluted common share for the year endedDecember 31, 2017, was $5.29, an increase of 8.6% over the same period in the prior year.

• Normalized AFFO per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2017 was $1.21, an increase of 5.2% over the same period in the prior year. Normalized AFFO per diluted common share for the year endedDecember 31, 2017 was $4.75, an increase of 8.2% over the same period in the prior year.

• FFO per diluted common share for the three months ended December 31, 2017, was $1.31, a decrease of 8.4% from the same period in the prior year. FFO per diluted common share for the year endedDecember 31, 2017, was $5.50, an increase of 4.8% from the same period in the prior year.

• FFO and net income attributable to common stockholders for the three months ended December 31, 2017 includes $1.6 million in write-offs related to early retirement of a portion of our convertible debt. FFO and net income attributable to common stockholders for the year endedDecember 31, 2017 included, in addition to the above-mentioned items, gains on sales of marketable securities of $10.0 million, an additional $590,000 related to early retirement of a portion of our convertible debt and $922,000 recognized on a mortgage note payoff.

FFO, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and applied by us, is net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate property, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures, if any. The Company defines Normalized FFO as FFO adjusted for certain items which may create some difficulty in comparing FFO for the current period to similar prior periods. We define Normalized AFFO as Normalized FFO excluding the effects of straight-line lease revenue, amortization of debt issuance costs and the non-cash amortization of the original issue discount of our unsecured convertible notes. These supplemental non-GAAP performance measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other REITs.

Net income attributable to common stockholders is a calculation of our net income, defined as the results of our operations in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) in the United States of America, less net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in our consolidated joint ventures, if any.

The reconciliation of net income attributable to common stockholders to our FFO, Normalized FFO, Normalized AFFO and Normalized Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) is included as a table to this press release and filed in the Company’s Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Investor Conference Call and Webcast

NHI will host a conference call on Friday, February 16, 2018, at 12 p.m. ET, to discuss fourth quarter results. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (800) 926-7748 with the confirmation number, 21881542. The live broadcast of NHI’s fourth quarter conference call will be available online at www.nhireit.com. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue for approximately 90 days.

About National Health Investors

Incorporated in 1991, National Health Investors, Inc. (NYSE: NHI) is a real estate investment trust specializing in sale-leaseback, joint-venture, mortgage and mezzanine financing of need-driven and discretionary senior housing and medical investments. NHI’s portfolio consists of independent, assisted and memory care communities, entrance-fee retirement communities, skilled nursing facilities, medical office buildings and specialty hospitals. Visit www.nhireit.com for more information.

NHI Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

Page 3

February 16, 2018

Reconciliation of FFO, Normalized FFO, Normalized AFFO and Normalized FAD
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended						Year Ended
	December 31,						December 31,
	2017			2016			2017			2016
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	37,798		$	41,188		$	159,365		$	151,540
Elimination of certain non-cash items in net income:
Depreciation	17,167			15,887			67,173			59,525
Depreciation related to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			(927		)
Net gain on sales of real estate	—			—			(50		)	(4,582		)
Funds from operations	54,965			57,075			226,488			205,556
Gain on sale of marketable securities	—			(6,175		)	(10,038		)	(29,673		)
Gain on sale of equity-method investee	—			—			—			(1,657		)
Write-off of deferred tax asset	—			—			—			1,192
Loss on early retirement of convertible debt	1,624			—			2,214			—
Debt issuance costs written-off due to credit facility modifications	—			—			407			—
Ineffective portion of cash flow hedges	(3		)	—			(353		)	—
Non-cash write-off of straight-line rent receivable	—			—			—			9,456
Write-off of lease intangible	—			—			—			6,400
Revenue recognized due to early lease termination	—			—			—			(303		)
Recognition of note discount and early payment penalty	—			(288		)	(922		)	(288		)
Normalized FFO	56,586			50,612			217,796			190,683
Straight-line lease revenue, net	(7,134		)	(5,615		)	(26,090		)	(22,198		)
Straight-line lease revenue, net, related to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			(4		)
Amortization of lease incentives	50			10			119			40
Amortization of original issue discount	269			291			1,109			1,145
Amortization of debt issuance costs	655			611			2,483			2,368
Amortization of debt issuance costs related to noncontrolling interest	—			—			—			(27		)
Normalized AFFO	50,426			45,909			195,417			172,007
Non-cash stock based compensation	342			251			2,612			1,732
Normalized FAD	$	50,768		$	46,160		$	198,029		$	173,739
BASIC
Weighted average common shares outstanding	41,532,130			39,847,860			40,894,219			39,013,412
FFO per common share	$	1.32		$	1.43		$	5.54		$	5.27
Normalized FFO per common share	$	1.36		$	1.27		$	5.33		$	4.89
Normalized AFFO per common share	$	1.21		$	1.15		$	4.78		$	4.41
DILUTED
Weighted average common shares outstanding	41,803,615			39,993,445			41,151,453			39,155,380
FFO per common share	$	1.31		$	1.43		$	5.50		$	5.25
Normalized FFO per common share	$	1.35		$	1.27		$	5.29		$	4.87
Normalized AFFO per common share	$	1.21		$	1.15		$	4.75		$	4.39

See Notes to Reconciliation of FFO, Normalized FFO, Normalized AFFO and Normalized FAD.

NHI Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

Page 4

February 16, 2018

Notes to Reconciliation of FFO, Normalized FFO, Normalized AFFO and Normalized FAD

These supplemental operating performance measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other REITs. Consequently, our Funds From Operations (“FFO”), Normalized FFO, Normalized Adjusted Funds From Operations (“AFFO”) and Normalized Funds Available for Distribution (“FAD”) may not provide a meaningful measure of our performance as compared to that of other REITs. Since other REITs may not use our definition of these operating performance measures, caution should be exercised when comparing our Company’s FFO, Normalized FFO, Normalized AFFO and Normalized FAD to that of other REITs. These financial performance measures do not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) (these measures do not include changes in operating assets and liabilities) and therefore should not be considered an alternative to net earnings as an indication of operating performance, or to net cash flow from operating activities as determined by GAAP as a measure of liquidity, and are not necessarily indicative of cash available to fund cash needs.

Funds From Operations - FFO

FFO, as defined by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (“NAREIT”) and applied by us, is net income (computed in accordance with GAAP), excluding gains (or losses) from sales of real estate property, plus real estate depreciation and amortization, and after adjustments for unconsolidated partnerships and joint ventures, if any. The Company’s computation of FFO may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not define the term in accordance with the current NAREIT definition or have a different interpretation of the current NAREIT definition from that of the Company; therefore, caution should be exercised when comparing our Company’s FFO to that of other REITs. Diluted FFO assumes the exercise of stock options and other potentially dilutive securities. Normalized FFO excludes from FFO certain items which, due to their infrequent or unpredictable nature, may create some difficulty in comparing FFO for the current period to similar prior periods, and may include, but are not limited to, impairment of non-real estate assets, gains and losses attributable to the acquisition and disposition of assets and liabilities, and recoveries of previous write-downs.

We believe that FFO and normalized FFO are important supplemental measures of operating performance for a REIT. Because the historical cost accounting convention used for real estate assets requires depreciation (except on land), such accounting presentation implies that the value of real estate assets diminishes predictably over time. Since real estate values instead have historically risen and fallen with market conditions, presentations of operating results for a REIT that uses historical cost accounting for depreciation could be less informative, and should be supplemented with a measure such as FFO. The term FFO was designed by the REIT industry to address this issue.

Adjusted Funds From Operations - AFFO

In addition to the adjustments included in the calculation of normalized FFO, normalized AFFO excludes the impact of any straight-line lease revenue, amortization of the original issue discount on our convertible senior notes and amortization of debt issuance costs.

We believe that normalized AFFO is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for a REIT. GAAP requires a lessor to recognize contractual lease payments into income on a straight-line basis over the expected term of the lease. This straight-line adjustment has the effect of reporting lease income that is significantly more or less than the contractual cash flows received pursuant to the terms of the lease agreement. GAAP also requires the original issue discount of our convertible senior notes and debt issuance costs to be amortized as non-cash adjustments to earnings. Normalized AFFO is useful to our investors as it reflects the growth inherent in the contractual lease payments of our real estate portfolio.

Funds Available for Distribution - FAD

In addition to the adjustments included in the calculation of normalized AFFO, normalized FAD excludes the impact of non-cash stock based compensation.

We believe that normalized FAD is an important supplemental measure of operating performance for a REIT as a useful indicator of the ability to distribute dividends to shareholders. Additionally, normalized FAD improves the understanding of our operating results among investors and makes comparisons with: (i) expected results, (ii) results of previous periods and (iii) results among REITs, more meaningful. Because FAD may function as a liquidity measure, we do not present FAD on a per-share basis.

.

NHI Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

Page 5

February 16, 2018

Condensed Statements of Income
(in thousands, except share and per share amounts)
	Three Months Ended					Twelve Months Ended
	December 31,					December 31,
	2017			2016		2017			2016
Revenues:
Rental income	$	68,050		$	61,009	$	265,127		$	232,353
Interest income from mortgage and other notes	3,009			3,669		13,134			13,805
Investment income and other	24			339		398			2,302
	71,083			65,017		278,659			248,460
Expenses:
Depreciation	17,167			15,887		67,173			59,525
Interest expense	11,185			11,364		46,324			43,108
Legal	77			16		494			422
Franchise, excise and other taxes	157			183		960			1,009
General and administrative	3,075			2,554		12,217			9,773
Loan and realty losses	—			—		—			15,856
	31,661			30,004		127,168			129,693
Income before equity-method investee, TRS tax benefit, investment and
other gains and noncontrolling interest	39,422			35,013		151,491			118,767
Loss from equity-method investee	—			—		—			(1,214		)
Loss on convertible note retirement	(1,624		)	—		(2,214		)	—
Income tax benefit attributable to taxable REIT subsidiary	—			—		—			(749		)
Investment and other gains	—			6,175		10,088			35,912
Net income	37,798			41,188		159,365			152,716
Less: net income attributable to noncontrolling interest	—			—		—			(1,176		)
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$	37,798		$	41,188	$	159,365		$	151,540
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic	41,532,130			39,847,860		40,894,219			39,013,412
Diluted	41,803,615			39,993,445		41,151,453			39,155,380
Earnings per common share:
Net income attributable to common stockholders - basic	$	.91		$	1.03	$	3.90		$	3.88
Net income attributable to common stockholders - diluted	$	.90		$	1.03	$	3.87		$	3.87
Regular dividends declared per common share	$	.95		$	.90	$	3.80		$	3.60

NHI Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Results

Page 6

February 16, 2018

Selected Balance Sheet Data
(in thousands)
	December 31, 2017		December 31, 2016
Real estate properties, net	$	2,285,701	$	2,159,774
Mortgage and other notes receivable, net	$	141,486	$	133,493
Cash and cash equivalents	$	3,063	$	4,636
Straight-line rent receivable	$	97,359	$	72,518
Other assets	$	18,212	$	33,212
Debt	$	1,145,497	$	1,115,981
Stockholders’ equity	$	1,322,117	$	1,209,590

This press release includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  All statements regarding the Company’s, tenants’, operators’, borrowers’ or managers’ expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, funds from operations, dividend and dividend plans, financing opportunities and plans, capital market transactions, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, operating metrics, capital expenditures, competitive positions, acquisitions, investment opportunities, dispositions, acquisition integration, growth opportunities, expected lease income, continued qualification as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”), plans and objectives of management for future operations, continued performance improvements, ability to service and refinance our debt obligations, ability to finance growth opportunities, and similar statements including, without limitation, those containing words such as “may”, “will”, “believes”, “anticipates”, “expects”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, and other similar expressions are forward-looking statements.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results in future periods to differ materially from those projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among other things; the operating success of our tenants and borrowers for collection of our lease and interest income; the success of property development and construction activities, which may fail to achieve the operating results we expect; the risk that our tenants and borrowers may become subject to bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings; risks related to governmental regulations and payors, principally Medicare and Medicaid, and the effect that lower reimbursement rates would have on our tenants’ and borrowers’ business; the risk that the cash flows of our tenants and borrowers would be adversely affected by increased liability claims and liability insurance costs; risks related to environmental laws and the costs associated with liabilities related to hazardous substances; the risk that we may not be fully indemnified by our lessees and borrowers against future litigation; the success of our future acquisitions and investments; our ability to reinvest cash in real estate investments in a timely manner and on acceptable terms; the potential need to incur more debt in the future, which may not be available on terms acceptable to us; our ability to meet covenants related to our indebtedness which impose certain operational; the risk that the illiquidity of real estate investments could impede our ability to respond to adverse changes in the performance of our properties; risks associated with our investments in unconsolidated entities, including our lack of sole decision-making authority and our reliance on the financial condition of other interests; our dependence on revenues derived mainly from fixed rate investments in real estate assets, while a portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates; the risk that our assets may be subject to impairment charges; and our dependence on the ability to continue to qualify for taxation as a real estate investment trust. Many of these factors are beyond the control of the Company and its management.  The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the foregoing or any other forward looking statements, except as required by law, and these statements speak only as of the date on which they are made.   Investors are urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by NHI in its periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors and other information disclosed in NHI’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year. Copies of these filings are available at no cost on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov or on NHI’s web site at http://www.nhireit.com.