Last week, S&P upgraded Healthcare Trust of America's (HTA) investment grade credit rating to BBB, with a stable outlook. S&P specifically cited Healthcare Trust of America's well occupied, on-campus medical office building portfolio, conservative credit metrics, and the successful progress of the company's in-house asset management and leasing platform as rationale for the upgrade.
As an owner of Healthcare Trust of America, the S&P upgrade confirms my stock picking decision as one based on sound value investing principles. In other words, it's my goal to own high-quality REITs that offer a steady dividend with the prospects for solid share price appreciation. Healthcare Trust of America is now only one of four health care REITs with a rating of BBB or higher; Ventas, Inc. and HCP, Inc. both have an S&P rating of BBB+ and Health Care REIT is rated BBB.
Recently I visited HTA's corporate headquarters in Scottsdale Arizona to provide you this exclusive Motley Fool interview with Scott Peters, CEO of HTA.
