ENSIGN GROUP, INC (ENSG)

Item 2.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, which appear elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We urge you to carefully review and consider the various disclosures made by us in this Quarterly Report and in our other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025 (Annual Report), which discusses our business and related risks in greater detail, as well as subsequent reports we may file from time to time on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K, for additional information. The section entitled “Risk Factors” contained in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and similar discussions in our other SEC filings, also describe some of the important risk factors that may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or liquidity. You should carefully consider those risks, in addition to the other information in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and in our other filings with the SEC, before deciding to purchase, hold or sell our common stock.

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains "forward-looking statements," within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which include, but are not limited to our expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, budgets, capital expenditures, competitive positions, growth opportunities, and plans and objectives of management. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by words such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “predicts,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “potential,” “continue,” “ongoing,” similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, some of which are listed under the section “Risk Factors” contained in Part II, Item 1A of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and are based on our current expectations, estimates and projections about our industry and business, management’s beliefs, and certain assumptions made by us, all of which are subject to change. We undertake no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statement for any reason, except as otherwise required by law.

Overview

We are a provider of health care services across the post-acute care continuum. We engage in the operation, ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing, senior living and other healthcare-related properties and ancillary businesses located in 17 states. Our independent subsidiaries, each of which strive to be the operation of choice in the communities they serve, provide a broad spectrum of services. As of June 30, 2026, we offered skilled nursing, long-term acute care, senior living and rehabilitative care services through 396 skilled nursing and senior living facilities. Our real estate portfolio includes 181 owned real estate properties, which includes 142 facilities operated and managed by us, 39 operations leased to and operated by third-party operators and the Service Center location. Of the 39 third-party operations, one senior living operation is located on the same real estate property as a skilled nursing operation that we own and operate.

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The following table summarizes our independent subsidiaries and operational skilled nursing beds and senior living units by ownership status as of June 30, 2026:

The Ensign Group, Inc. is a holding company with no direct operating assets, employees or revenues. Our subsidiaries are operated by separate, independent entities, each of which has its own management, employees and assets. In addition, certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries including Ensign Services, Inc. and Cornet Limited, Inc., referred to collectively as the Service Center, provide centralized accounting, payroll, human resources, information technology, legal, risk management and other centralized services to the other independent subsidiaries. We also have a wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary that provides some claims-made coverage to our independent subsidiaries for general and professional liability, as well as coverage for certain workers’ compensation insurance liabilities. Our captive real estate investment trust, Standard Bearer, owns and manages our real estate business. References herein to the consolidated “Company” and “its” assets and activities, as well as the use of the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms in this Quarterly Report, are not meant to imply, nor should they be construed as meaning that The Ensign Group, Inc. has direct operating assets, employees or revenue, or that any of the subsidiaries are operated by The Ensign Group, Inc.

Our acquisition strategy has been focused on identifying both opportunistic and strategic acquisitions within our target markets that offer strong opportunities for return. The operations added by us are frequently underperforming financially and can have regulatory and clinical challenges to overcome. Financial information, especially with underperforming operations, is often inadequate, inaccurate or unavailable. Consequently, we believe that prior operating results are not a meaningful representation of our current operating results or indicative of the integration potential of our newly acquired independent subsidiaries.

Recent Activities

We believe we exist to dignify and transform post-acute care. We set out a strategy to achieve our goal of ensuring our patients are receiving the best possible care through our ability to acquire, integrate and improve our operations. Our results serve as a strong indicator that our strategy is working and our transformation is underway. Our dedication to our cultural and operational fundamentals continues to deliver strong results. Refer to Results of Operations for further discussion.

Operational Expansions — During the six months ended June 30, 2026, we expanded our operations with the addition of 21 stand-alone skilled nursing operations and two campus operations in four states. These new operations added a total of 2,724 operational skilled nursing beds operated by our independent subsidiaries. Twenty of our expansions were in Texas, establishing it as our largest market with 105 skilled nursing and senior living operations and reinforcing our continued growth in the state where we began in 1999.

Subsequent to June 30, 2026, we expanded our presence with the addition of two stand-alone skilled nursing operations in Texas, and these new operations will add 250 operational skilled nursing beds to be operated by our independent subsidiaries.

Standard Bearer Acquisitions — Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc. (Standard Bearer), our captive REIT, is a holding company with subsidiaries that own a majority of our real estate portfolio. Management believes that the REIT structure enhances transparency into the value of the Company’s owned real estate and provides an efficient platform to support future property acquisitions, which may be operated by our independent subsidiaries or leased to third‑party operators.

During the six months ended June 30, 2026, Standard Bearer added $374.6 million of real estate assets associated with 18 stand-alone skilled nursing operations, three stand-alone senior living operations and two campus operations. Of these additions, three stand-alone senior living operations are leased to a third-party operator and the remaining additions are operated by our independent subsidiaries.

Subsequent to June 30, 2026, Standard Bearer added approximately $36.0 million real estate assets associated with two stand-alone skilled nursing operations operated by our independent subsidiaries.

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Common Stock Repurchase Program — On May 13, 2026, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase up to $40.0 million of our common stock under the program for a period of approximately 12 months from June 12, 2026. On June 12, 2026, the Board of Directors approved an amendment to the stock repurchase program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase an additional $60.0 million of our common stock under the program. During the three months ended June 30, 2026, we repurchased 257 shares of our common stock for $40.0 million. As of June 30, 2026, $60.0 million remained authorized and available for repurchase under the stock repurchase program.

Facility Information

The following table sets forth the location of our facilities and the number of operational beds and units located at our skilled nursing, senior living and campus facilities as of June 30, 2026:

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The following table provides summary information regarding the location of our owned and operated real estate properties as of June 30, 2026:

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Item 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes, which appear elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those discussed below and elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See Part I.Item 1A., Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.

For discussion of 2023 items and year-over-year comparisons between 2024 and 2023 that are not included in this 2025 Form 10-K, refer to “Item 7. – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” found in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 5, 2025.

Overview

We are a provider of health care services across the post-acute care continuum. We engage in the operation, ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing, senior living and other healthcare related properties and ancillary businesses located in 17 states. Our independent subsidiaries, each of which strive to be the operation of choice in the communities they serve, provide a broad spectrum of services. As of December 31, 2025, we offered skilled nursing, long term acute care, senior living and rehabilitative care services through 373 skilled nursing and senior living facilities. Our real estate portfolio includes 158 owned real estate properties, which includes 120 facilities operated and managed by us, 38 operations leased to and operated by third-party operators and the Service Center location. Of the 38 third-party operations, one senior living operation is located on the same real estate property as a skilled nursing operation that we own and operate.

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The Ensign Group, Inc. is a holding company with no direct operating assets, employees or revenues. Our subsidiaries are operated by separate, independent entities, each of which has its own management, employees and assets. In addition, certain of our wholly-owned subsidiaries including Ensign Services, Inc. and Cornet Limited, Inc., referred to collectively as the Service Center, provide centralized accounting, payroll, human resources, information technology, legal, risk management and other centralized services to the other independent subsidiaries. We also have a wholly-owned captive insurance subsidiary that provides some claims-made coverage to our independent subsidiaries for general and professional liability, as well as coverage for certain workers’ compensation insurance liabilities and our captive real estate trust owns and operates our real estate portfolio. Our captive real estate investment trust, Standard Bearer, owns and manages our real estate business. References herein to the consolidated “Company” and “its” assets and activities, as well as the use of the terms “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms in this Annual Report, are not meant to imply, nor should they be construed as meaning that The Ensign Group, Inc. has direct operating assets, employees or revenue, or that any of the subsidiaries are operated by The Ensign Group, Inc.

Recent Activities

We believe we exist to dignify and transform post-acute care. We set out a strategy to achieve our goal of ensuring our patients are receiving the best possible care through our ability to acquire, integrate and improve our operations. Our results serve as a strong indicator that our strategy is working and our transformation is underway. Our dedication to our cultural and operational fundamentals continues to deliver strong results. Refer to Results of Operations for further discussion.

Operational Update — Our combined Same Facilities and Transitioning Facilities occupancy increased by 2.7% compared to the same period in 2024. Our focus on rebuilding census resulted in Same Facilities occupancy of 82.9% during the year ended December 31, 2025 compared to 80.9% in the same period in 2024. These results were possible due to the innovative approaches and strategic partnerships which supported our multiple year growth in occupancy improvements and continue to enable us to gain additional market share. These key initiatives together with our dedication to our cultural and operational fundamentals resulted in strong 2025 results.

Operational Expansions — During the year ended December 31, 2025, we expanded our operations with the addition of 40 stand-alone skilled nursing operations, five stand-alone senior living operations and one campus operation. These new operations added a total of 4,175 operational skilled nursing beds and 313 operational senior living units operated by our independent subsidiaries. Subsequent to December 31, 2025, we expanded our operations with the addition of five stand-alone skilled nursing operations that added 582 operational skilled nursing beds operated by our independent subsidiaries. Standard Bearer had previously purchased the real estate for two of these operations, which were subsequently transferred from a third-party operator to the our independent subsidiaries. Additionally, we invested in new ancillary services that are complementary to our existing businesses.

Expansion into New States — In the first quarter of 2025, we expanded our operations into the states of Alabama, Alaska and Oregon. These expansions are part of our strategic vision to further strengthen our growing national presence in both existing and new attractive markets.

Standard Bearer Update — Standard Bearer Healthcare REIT, Inc. (Standard Bearer), our captive REIT, is a holding company with subsidiaries that own a majority of our real estate portfolio. We expect the REIT structure to allow us to better demonstrate the growing value of our owned real estate and provide us with an efficient vehicle for future acquisitions of properties that could be operated by our independent subsidiaries or other third parties.

During the year ended December 31, 2025, Standard Bearer added $314.2 million of real estate associated with 25 stand-alone skilled nursing operations, one stand-alone senior living operation and two campus operations. Four of the acquisitions were related to exercising purchase options from CareTrust REIT, Inc. (CareTrust) lease arrangements where our independent subsidiaries have been operating and managing these locations. Of these additions, four stand-alone skilled nursing operations are leased to third-party operators and the remaining additions are operated by our independent subsidiaries. Our existing relationships with third-party operators within our industry have allowed us to expand our growing REIT structure to operators outside of our organization.

As of December 31, 2025, the fair value of Standard Bearer's real estate portfolio is approximately $1.7 billion. The fair value was determined by a third-party independent valuation specialist and incorporated each property's rental income, capitalization rate, rental yield rate and discount rate.

Subsequent to December 31, 2025, Standard Bearer added approximately $18.1 million of real estate associated with two stand-alone skilled nursing operations, as discussed above, where all of the stand-alone skilled nursing facilities were leased back to our independent subsidiaries. In addition, Standard Bearer had previously purchased the real estate for two of stand-alone skilled nursing operations, which were subsequently transferred from a third-party operator to the Company’s independent subsidiaries.

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Insignia Pathway - In November 2025, we donated $10.0 million to Insignia Pathway, a non-profit organization formed in 2024 with a mission to empower, support and expand the post-acute care workforce. Insignia Pathway is dedicated to inspiring the current and next generation to choose careers in this essential field. In its first year of operation, the charity awarded over $1.0 million in grants to Registered Nurses from 23 countries who have committed to work for U.S.-based skilled nursing providers. In total, we have donated $45.0 million to Insignia Pathway since its formation.

Common Stock Repurchase Program — On February 21, 2025, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which we were authorized to repurchase up to $20.0 million of our common stock under the program for a period of approximately 12 months from March 26, 2025. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we repurchased 157 shares of our common stock for $20.0 million. This repurchase program expired upon the repurchase of the fully authorized amount under the plan and is no longer in effect.

On May 15, 2025, the Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program pursuant to which we are authorized to repurchase up to $20.0 million of our common stock under the program for a period of approximately 12 months from June 16, 2025. During the year ended December 31, 2025, we did not repurchase any shares pursuant to this stock repurchase program.

Litigation — During the year ended December 31, 2025, we agreed to settle all alleged wage, hour or labor code-related violations asserted on a class or representative basis against our independent subsidiaries in California for purported violations occurring during the six year period ending December 2025, for $12.0 million, pending court approval.

Key Performance Indicators

We manage the fiscal aspects of our business by monitoring key performance indicators that affect our financial performance. Revenue associated with these metrics is generated based on contractually agreed-upon amounts or rate, excluding the estimates of variable consideration under the revenue recognition standard, Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 606. These indicators and their definitions include the following:

Skilled Services

•Routine revenue — Routine revenue is generated by the contracted daily rate charged for all contractually inclusive skilled nursing services. The inclusion of therapy and other ancillary treatments varies by payor source and by contract. Services provided outside of the routine contractual agreement are recorded separately as ancillary revenue, including Medicare Part B therapy services, and are not included in the routine revenue definition.

•Skilled revenue — The amount of routine revenue generated from patients in the skilled nursing facilities who are receiving higher levels of care under Medicare, managed care, Medicaid, or other skilled reimbursement programs. The other skilled patients who are included in this population represent very high acuity patients who are receiving high levels of nursing and ancillary services which are reimbursed by payors other than Medicare or managed care. Skilled revenue excludes any revenue generated from our senior living services.

•Skilled mix — The amount of our skilled revenue as a percentage of our total skilled nursing routine revenue. Skilled mix (in days) represents the number of days our Medicare, managed care, or other skilled patients are receiving skilled nursing services at the skilled nursing facilities divided by the total number of days patients from all payor sources are receiving skilled nursing services at the skilled nursing facilities for any given period.

•Average daily rates — The routine revenue by payor source for a period at the skilled nursing facilities divided by actual patient days for that revenue source for that given period.

•Occupancy percentage (operational beds) — The total number of patients occupying a bed in a skilled nursing facility as a percentage of the beds in a facility which are avai

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