Feb 11 (Reuters) - Welltower ( WELL ) forecast annual funds from operations (FFO) above

estimates on Tuesday, betting on strong demand for the healthcare real estate investment trust's

assisted living and senior housing properties.

The company sees 2025 normalized FFO, a key performance measure for REITs, in the range of

$4.79 to $4.95 per share, above analysts' average estimate of $4.79 apiece, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

The REIT owns housing, outpatient medical centers and healthcare properties with a focus on

older adults and assisted living. It operates in the United States, Canada and the UK.

It posted quarterly normalized FFO of $1.13 per share in the quarter ended December 31, an

increase of 17.7% over the previous year.

The demand for senior housing has been growing due to an aging population in the U.S. and a

rise in senior citizens' healthcare expenditures.

Welltower's ( WELL ) same-store net operating income from its senior housing properties rose 23.9% in

the fourth quarter.

The Ohio-based company posted a net profit of 19 cents per share, compared with a net profit

of 15 cents per share reported a year earlier.