Strawberry Fields REIT Inc. (NYSE American: STRW)

Strawberry Fields REIT Inc. (NYSE American: STRW) is a self-administered real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development, and leasing of skilled nursing and other healthcare-related properties. Initially spun out in 2015 with a 33-property portfolio in Indiana and Illinois, the company has steadily expanded its footprint and now owns and leases across 10 states. Its facilities are leased to experienced third-party operators, primarily under long-term triple-net agreements.

The company’s disciplined strategy emphasizes working with regional operators and experienced consultants, focusing on markets where demographic tailwinds and regulatory barriers support long-term demand. From 2020 through projected 2025, the company achieved compound annual growth rates of 13.6% in Adjusted Funds From Operations (AFFO) and 13.5% in Adjusted EBITDA (AEBITDA).

In August 2025, the board of directors approved a 14.3% increase in the company’s quarterly dividend to $0.16 per share. Chairman and CEO Moishe Gubin stated that the dividend increase reflects the company’s strong performance and sustainable outlook, while still keeping the payout ratio below 50%.

Strawberry Fields REIT is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana.

Portfolio

As of September 2025, Strawberry Fields REIT owns and holds long-term leasehold interests in 142 healthcare facilities totaling more than 15,500 licensed beds. The portfolio includes 130 skilled nursing facilities (SNFs), 10 assisted living facilities (ALFs), and two long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs), with properties located in Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas.

In recent months, Strawberry Fields REIT has expanded its portfolio through the following acquisitions:

• Nine skilled nursing facilities in Missouri totaling 686 beds for $59 million. Eight of the facilities were added to an existing master lease with the Tide Group, increasing annual base rent by $5.5 million, while the ninth facility was added to Reliant Care Group’s lease, raising rent by an additional $0.6 million.
• An 80-bed skilled nursing facility near Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, for $4.25 million, which was leased to a current operator under a master lease with $425,000 of initial rents and 3% annual escalations.
• A 124-bed facility comprised of 108 skilled nursing beds and 16 assisted living beds near Poplar Bluff, Missouri, for $5.3 million, which was leased to a current operator under a master lease with $530,000of initial rents and 3% annual escalations.

Market Opportunity

Strawberry Fields REIT operates in the skilled nursing and post-acute healthcare real estate sector, which is supported by favorable demographic and regulatory trends. The U.S. population aged 65 and older is expected to exceed 72 million by 2030 and reach 88.5 million by 2050. According to the CDC, 83.5% of skilled nursing facility residents are 65 or older.

The sector benefits from high barriers to entry, including regulatory constraints, capital requirements, and operational complexity. At the same time, government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid provide a stable reimbursement base. The company noted that despite challenges, its operators have demonstrated consistent profitability in states that are traditionally considered difficult for SNF operators.

Spending on SNF care for the aging population is projected to grow from $181.6 billion in 2021 to $273 billion in 2030, reflecting a compound annual growth rate of 4.63%. Strawberry Fields REIT’s geographic clustering strategy and long-term lease structure position it to benefit from this increasing demand and constrained supply.

Leadership Team

Moishe Gubin, Chairman, CEO, and Founder, has served as CEO since the company’s inception and was involved in every acquisition. He previously served as CFO and manager of Infinity Healthcare Management and is a licensed CPA in New York.

Jeffrey Bajtner, Chief Investment Officer and Chief Operating Officer, joined the company in 2021. He oversees acquisitions, dispositions, and investor relations. Previously, he held leadership roles at BlitzLake Partners and NorthStar Realty Finance. He is a licensed CPA in Illinois.

Greg Flamion, Chief Financial Officer, joined in January 2024. He was formerly CFO at Zimmerman Advertising and has held senior finance roles at Diageo and Bristol Myers Squibb. He holds an MBA from the University of Florida and is a CPA licensed in Indiana.

Steven Greenfield, General Counsel, joined in April 2025. He previously served as Managing Attorney at HammondLaw and held executive and legal positions at Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP and Mayer Brown LLP, focusing on tax and securities law.