Assura hails 'transformative' first half as earnings spark

(Sharecast News) - Real estate investment trust Assura posted improved rental income and earnings on Thursday, following a "transformative" first half. The FTSE 250 firm, a specialist in NHS and private healthcare, said net rental income rose 8% to £76.7m in the six months to September end.

Earnings rose 4% to £52.7m, while earnings per share ticked up to 1.72p from 1.71p.

Its portfolio of 625 properties was valued at £3.1bn, compared to £2.7bn in March 2024.

Jonathan Murphy, chief executive, said the first had had benefited from two key transactions - including the acquisition of 14 private hospitals - an increased presence in non-NHS healthcare and a diversification of funding sources.

He continued: "The first half has been transformative for Assura.

"We delivered significant strategic progress to position us firmly as the UK's leading diversified reit, offering an attractive investment opportunity into favourable long-term healthcare trends."

Assura also confirmed it had been granted approval for a secondary listing on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange.

"Assura continues to see opportunities in providing critical healthcare infrastructure and believes that this secondary listing will provide a new potential pool of capital to fund Assura's continue growth," it said.

Trading on the JSE is due to get underway on 21 November.

As at 0910 BST, Assura's London-listed shares were up 1% at 38.11p.