NEW YORK (Dow Jones)-Ventas Inc.'s (VTR) third-quarter funds from operations fell about 13%, yet topped analysts' expectations, helped in part by rent increases and strength in its medical office building portfolio.

"It was a nice beat," said David Aubuchon, analyst at Robert W. Baird & Co. Aubuchon added that better-than-expected results in the company's Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (SRZ) portfolio, which is top-of-mind for many investors, is good news.

The health care real estate investment trust whose properties include senior housing communities, skilled nursing facilities and hospitals also raised its 2009 adjusted funds from operations, or FFO, forecast.

The Chicago company, said third-quarter FFO fell to $98.3 million, from $113 million, a year earlier. On a per-share basis, FFO fell to 63 cents a share, from 80 cents a share. Adjusted FFO decreased to 66 cents from 68 cents, a year ago.

Analysts, on average, expected FFO, which is a key industry measure of performance, of 63 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters.

For the year, the Chicago company said it now expects adjusted FFO per share of $2.62 to $2.65 a share, improving upon its previous view of $2.55 to $2.62 a share.

Health care REITs have seen their shares run up in recent months, as their generally strong balance sheets and potential for acquisitions has caught the attention of many investors.

To that end, the company indicated it may have an eye out for acquisitions.

"With low leverage and excess liquidity, we are perfectly positioned to invest when appropriate," said Chief Executive Debra Cafaro.

Not to mention, the nature of their cash flows, compared to their peers in the multi-family or office space, for example, has helped health care REITs be more resilient in the down economy, said Aubuchon.

Ventas, like its peers, has actively boosted its capital and liquidity position by selling stock and notes, and using some of the proceeds to pay off debt.

Even so, senior housing occupancy has been challenged as the recession has held back some seniors from selling homes and moving into REIT-owned facilities.

Lower net operating income after management fees, or NOI, at some of the company's senior living properties speaks to this challenge. Ventas said for its 76 Sunrise communities that were stabilized in the third quarters of 2009 and 2008, total community NOI fell to $32.6 million in the 2009 quarter from $34.9 million for the comparable 2008 period.

Still, Ventas said for the 78 communities that were stabilized in the second and third quarters of 2009, average occupancy increased to 88.1% in the third quarter from 87.2% in the second quarter, which is welcomed news to many investors. Looking at stabilized figures gives investors a clearer look at an asset's organic growth.

In addition, Ventas said NOI for its Sunrise properties is trending toward the high end of its $122 million to $129 million forecast range.

Investors have carefully eyed property owners' exposure to Sunrise, a key senior housing operator that is battling back from balance sheet issues after a period of over-expansion. Sunrise's news this week of a pact to settle claims with some of its lenders is likely to be seen as a positive for Ventas as well, analysts say.

Sunrise manages 79 senior housing communities in North America for Ventas. Ventas owns 100% of 19 of these communities and has a partnership share of between 75% to 85% in the remaining 60 communities, in which Sunrise has a noncontrolling stake.

Shares closed Wednesday at $39.01 and didn't trade premarket.

-By Veronica Dagher, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2261; veronica.dagher@dowjones.com