Sleep Well at Night with the Highest Paying Health Care REIT

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- The issue facing investors today is to find stocks that can give you the best total returns in any economic environment? It can come in the form of dividends, or growth of course, but perhaps right now we can have both. Sort of like having our cake and eating it too.

However, as dividend seeking investors, we are more focused on the income component -- the essence of a "sleep well at night" value proposition. Today investors are looking for the strongest repeatable sources of income while also focusing on a fundamental policy of principal preservation.

REITs offer that combination: A unique asset category that provides reliable and sustainable income and strong potential for capital appreciation. Accordingly, with all of the uncertainty investors' face, REITs could offer a safer haven.

Healthcare REITs are predominantly considered a highly defensive sector due to the non-cyclical nature -- namely, people do not tend to change their healthcare spending patterns depending on the economy. Accordingly, healthcare REITs indirectly participate in the defensive nature of their tenants through their lease payments.

Omega Healthcare Investors (OHI), a pure play nursing home company, is the highest paying health care REIT. The Maryland-based company invests principally in long-term healthcare facilities. Omega has a market capitalization of $2.573 billion with a current dividend yield is 7.67% and year-to-date total return of 27.93%.

The company owned or held mortgages on 460 skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities and other specialty hospitals with approximately 51,117 licensed beds located in 33 states and operated by 47 third-party healthcare operating companies.

I had an opportunity to catch up with C. Taylor Pickett, CEO of Omega Healthcare Investors, (he has served in this capacity since 2001). Pickett is also a director and has served in this capacity since 2002.

Thomas: What does the Affordable Care Act mean for OHI investors?

Pickett: The Affordable Care Act will have a minimal impact on patients in skilled nursing facilities. The vast majority of SNF patients are already covered by Medicaid and/or Medicare.

Thomas: Omega invests primarily in long-term, healthcare facilities (97.3% skilled nursing). How will Medicare cuts impact your tenants -- skilled nursing operators?

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