Why Welltower Stock Fell 12% in February

Shares of Welltower, Inc. (NYSE: WELL) declined by roughly 12% in February according to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence. That fall corresponded with the declines in the S&P 500 Index that led the index to an 8% monthly loss. However, this healthcare real estate investment trust (REIT) was hardly alone. Its most direct peers, Ventas, Inc. (NYSE: VTR) and Healthpeak Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PEAK), also suffered low-double-digit drops. All of this was related to coronavirus concerns, but there's an additional effect for these REITs that investors need to understand.

The coronavirus started to gain attention at the start of the year. The coronavirus is part of a family of viruses known to cause the common cold as well as more severe diseases such as SARS, MERS, and, most recently, COVID-19. Some outlets report that the death rate of COVID-19 is notably higher than that of the common flu. Older adults and those with preexisting medical conditions also appear to be most at risk of death.   

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Source Fool.com