Ryman Healthcare Limited (ASX: RYM), New Zealand’s largest retirement living and aged care provider, has released its second-quarter trading update for the period ended 30 September 2026. The company, which owns and operates 47 integrated retirement villages across New Zealand and Australia, reported 379 sales of retirement living occupation right agreements (ORAs), comprising 312 resales and 67 new sales. Resales volumes reached an eight-quarter high, increasing significantly year-on-year, particularly strong in serviced apartments. Net resales contract volumes also rose, showing broad-based growth.
Ryman CEO Naomi James highlighted strong demand for serviced apartments, benefiting from structural growth in assisted living, and noted encouraging early responses to the new Ryman Select product. The company saw new retirement living stock reduced by 67 units. A new main building at Richard Hadlee Village in Christchurch opened in October, adding 77 retirement living units and 65 care beds, keeping Ryman on track for its FY27 build guidance. Aged care demand remained robust, with high total occupancy for the quarter, and Victorian mature aged care centres reaching nearly 98%. Ms James affirmed aged care demand continues to grow across both countries.
Ryman also expanded its Resident Fund product in New Zealand, allowing residents to use capital from prior units to fund care accommodation and base care fees. Despite soft housing market conditions, Ryman reported that demand for retirement living, assisted living, and aged care remains resilient, attributed to structural demographic drivers. The company is focused on targeted sales strategies and expanding product options to improve affordability and accessibility, aligning with its strategy to grow high-quality recurring earnings.
