National HealthCare Corporation (NHC) — ESG & Values Scores

Environment story

NHC discloses minimal environmental data. The 10-K mentions recycling programs, energy-efficiency initiatives, and zero-landfill electronic waste recycling, but provides no quantified Scope 1, 2, or 3 emissions, renewable electricity percentage, or net-zero target year. The company acknowledges climate-change risks (natural disasters, extreme weather, property damage, increased insurance costs) but offers no specific mitigation roadmap or emissions reduction targets. Environmental sustainability section is generic and lacks measurable commitments or third-party verification. The company's healthcare operations (facility heating, cooling, medical waste disposal, pharmaceutical supply chains) likely generate material emissions, but no baseline or trajectory is disclosed. Absence of comprehensive environmental reporting and undefined net-zero pathway result in significant deduction.

Criticisms on file

No disclosed emissions baseline or net-zero target; healthcare operations span 80 SNFs, 26 ALFs, 9 ILFs, 3 behavioral health hospitals, 34 homecare agencies, and 33 hospice agencies—high aggregate carbon footprint not quantified.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 1 Business and Item 7 MD&A; environmental section lacks quantitative disclosures.
Risk factor acknowledges climate change may increase disaster frequency and property insurance costs, but no adaptation or resilience strategy disclosed.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 1A Risk Factors: 'Disasters and similar events, which may increase as a result of climate change...'

Disclosed initiatives

Recycling Programs

NHC operates recycling programs to reduce waste sent to landfills and partners with zero-landfill electronic waste recycling vendors.

Reduces landfill waste but lacks quantification of volume diverted or emissions avoided.
Energy Efficiency

Company states commitment to energy efficiency, water conservation, and wastewater reduction across its facility portfolio.

No specific targets, timelines, or measured reductions provided.
Environmental Compliance

NHC commits to adhering to federal, state, and local environmental regulations.

Compliance-based only; no proactive climate or sustainability strategy articulated.

Social story

NHC reports 15,278 full-time and part-time employees as of December 31, 2025, with no unionized workforce (no collective bargaining agreements). The company emphasizes competitive total rewards (health insurance, 401(k) matching, tuition reimbursement, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, paid time off). CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio is not disclosed, preventing precise quantification of pay equity. Leadership diversity is not explicitly reported by gender or race; the 10-K mentions diversity is valued but provides no numeric targets or EEO-1 disclosure. NHC highlights administrator training programs (4 participants, 2 male and 2 female noted) and employee engagement surveys. No union-suppression activities or major strikes in past 24 months are documented. Supply-chain labor practices are not detailed; no explicit commitment to living wages, modern slavery statements, or conflict minerals policies. The healthcare sector faces severe nurse and caregiver shortages; NHC acknowledges competing for qualified labor and rising wages but does not disclose pay transparency or equity audits. Absence of mandatory diversity disclosures and CEO pay ratio limits social scoring.

Criticisms on file

CEO-to-median-worker pay ratio not disclosed; prevents verification of pay equity claims.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 8 Human Capital; no proxy statement or executive compensation details provided in source documents.
Leadership diversity (executive and board) not explicitly reported by gender or race; diversity valued in code of conduct but no numeric targets, EEO-1 disclosure, or baseline provided.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 8 Human Capital: 'The Company's partners appreciate different perspectives and embrace the opportunity to work with those of diverse backgrounds.'
Workforce turnover rate not disclosed; agency nurse staffing expenses decreased 66.6% from 2024 to 2025, suggesting prior workforce instability or reliance on contract labor.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 7 MD&A: 'For the year ended December 31, 2025 our agency nurse staffing expenses decreased $9,335,000, or approximately 66.6%, compared to the same period a year ago.'
No documented modern slavery statement, conflict minerals policy, or supply-chain labor audit disclosures; healthcare supply chains (pharmaceuticals, medical devices) carry elevated human-rights risks.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025; no human-rights due diligence or supply-chain ethics section.

Disclosed initiatives

Total Rewards Program

Competitive wages, health insurance, 401(k) matching contributions, paid time off (ETO), paid sick time, tuition reimbursement, Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

Supports attraction and retention; specific wage competitiveness data not disclosed.
Educational & Professional Development

Tuition reimbursement, ADA-approved internship program, nurse aide training classes, scholarships for healthcare vocations, 24-month Administrator in Training program (currently 4 participants).

Supports career pathways; limited scale (4 trainees in admin program).
Employee Engagement & Feedback

Regular anonymous surveys conducted by third-party consultants; results reviewed by senior leadership to drive engagement improvements.

Supports feedback loops; no public disclosure of survey results or metrics.
Health & Safety During COVID-19

Provided personal protective equipment, masks, thermometers, sanitizing supplies; followed CDC and WHO guidance.

Pandemic-era response; sustainability of protocols not detailed.
Community Investment

National Health Foundation and The Foundation for Geriatric Education provide grants and tuition reimbursement to nonprofits and employees pursuing geriatrics education. Compassion Fund supports employees in personal hardship.

Community/employee support mechanisms; scale and funding not quantified.

Governance story

NHC operates as a publicly traded corporation with no disclosed dual-class share structure, suggesting single-class voting (positive for independence). Board independence percentage is not explicitly stated in the 10-K; without proxy statement details, board composition cannot be quantified against the 75% independence threshold. The company discloses no lobbying expenditures, PAC contributions, or political donation breakdowns; stance on climate regulation, consumer protection, or antitrust policy is not articulated. No active antitrust proceedings, SEC fraud investigations, or material consumer-safety enforcement actions are mentioned in the source documents. The company acknowledges ongoing exposure to professional liability litigation (commonplace in long-term care) and maintains self-insurance programs; accrued risk reserves totaled $121.6 million at December 31, 2025. NHC faces regulatory inspections and compliance requirements under Medicare, Medicaid, and state health-care laws; disputes with NHI (landlord of Master Lease facilities) regarding alleged non-monetary lease defaults were disclosed in 2025, creating governance and operational risk. No evidence of shareholder proposals, proxy contests, or governance controversies is provided in the 10-K. Absence of board independence disclosure and lobbying transparency data limits governance scoring.

Criticisms on file

On July 29, 2025, National Health Investors, Inc. (NHI) notified NHC of alleged non-compliance with non-monetary provisions of the Master Lease. On September 8, 2025, NHI formally alleged default and threatened termination if cure periods were not met. NHC disputes the allegations but faces operational and financial risk if resolution fails. Master Lease affects significant portion of NHC's SNF and ILF portfolio.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 1A Risk Factors: 'The status of our lease with National Health Investors, Inc. creates uncertainties and risks to our future operations.'; Note 6 Long-Term Leases referenced but not provided in source documents.
Board independence percentage not disclosed; inability to verify compliance with governance best-practice thresholds (>75%).
Source: NHC 10-K 2025; proxy statement or board composition details not provided.
No lobbying expenditures or political contribution disclosures; stance on climate regulation, healthcare reform, or antitrust policy not articulated.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025; no Item 1A lobbying or political engagement section.
Professional liability litigation exposure is substantial; 121.6 million in accrued self-insurance reserves at December 31, 2025, representing ~7.5% of annual net operating revenues. Industry trend toward increased frequency and severity of claims noted.
Source: NHC 10-K 2025, Item 1A Risk Factors: 'We are defendants in significant legal actions... we have experienced an increasing trend in the frequency and severity of professional liability and workers' compensation claims...'

Disclosed initiatives

Regulatory Compliance Programs

NHC maintains policies and procedures to ensure compliance with anti-fraud and anti-abuse laws (Stark Law, False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Statute), HIPAA privacy and security requirements, and employment-related laws.

Compliance infrastructure in place; no violations disclosed.
Code of Conduct

Company-wide Code of Conduct guides employee behavior and compliance expectations.

Foundation for ethical governance; enforcement and audit mechanisms not detailed.
HIPAA Compliance Plan

Company-wide HIPAA compliance plan addressing privacy, security, and breach notification requirements.

Protects patient health information; no breaches disclosed.

These are Missionomics' own editorial scores — directional signals built from disclosed facts under a published method, not certifications or definitive ratings of National HealthCare Corporation. Coverage and confidence vary by data point, and figures can lag real-world changes. Read the full Methodology for sourcing, scoring, and correction details — or open National HealthCare Corporation in the app for interactive charts and portfolio building.

More in Healthcare

Eli Lilly and Company (LLY) Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) AbbVie Inc. (ABBV) UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH) Merck & Co., Inc. (MRK) Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (TMO)