HCA

Elevance Health topped Q2 earnings estimates Wednesday, despite falling medical membership, but profit was boosted by one-time "below-the-line" factors and the full-year outlook was underwhelming. ELV stock tumbled, making it among the S&P 500's early laggards. Molina Healthcare, another S&P 500 managed care stock, joined Elevance among the biggest laggards in pre-market trading.

This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. HCA Healthcare slashed its 2026 earnings guidance after the growing amount of uninsured Americans — mostly as a result of turbulence on the Affordable Care Act exchanges — ate into the for-profit hospital giant’s income in the second quarter. HCA now expects net income between $6.3 billion and $6.7 billion this year, compared with previous guidance of between $6.5 billion and $7 billion, the company disclosed on Tuesday. The earnings cut, which comes 10 days before HCA is scheduled to officially announce second-quarter results, spooked investors worried that hospitals had underestimated the impact of the ACA turmoil on their finances this year. HCA’s stock fell almost 10% in premarket trading following the release, which also dragged down shares in other hospital operators including Community Health Systems, Tenet Healthcare and Universal Health Services. Millions of Americans left the ACA exchanges this year after more generous financial aid from the federal government expired, causing premiums to skyrocket. Many of those people have become uninsured, according to experts, a worrying trend for hospitals that have to contend with lower demand for elective services and higher uncompensated care costs. HCA had braced for the impact, telling investors it expected to lose between $600 million and $900 million this year as a result of the ACA turmoil. HCA lost $150 million in the first quarter. But the financial toll ballooned in the second, according to HCA’s Tuesday release. HCA said it lost $400 million in the second quarter as a result of payer mix shift “primarily due to patients who lost coverage on the health insurance exchanges.” “We expected some acceleration [to the ACA impact] exiting Q1, although the magnitude is a surprise,” J.P. Morgan analyst Benjamin Rossi wrote in a note on Tuesday. HCA now expects to lose up to $1.1 billion from the ACA coverage decline this year, according to Rossi. HCA called out declining surgical volumes in the second quarter, which also likely contributed to the company’s decision to lower its 2026 earnings guidance. But overall, HCA expects its second-quarter results to be stronger than in the prior year, due to higher admissions and emergency room visits, along with increased...

Over the past six months, HCA Healthcare’s stock price fell to $423.55. Shareholders have lost 11.6% of their capital, which is disappointing considering the S&P 500 has climbed by 9%. This might have investors contemplating their next move. Following the pullback, is now a good time to buy HCA? Find out in our full research report, it’s free. With roots dating back to 1968 and a network spanning 20 states, HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) operates a network of 190 hospitals and 150+ outpatient facilities providing a full range of medical services across the US and England. Larger companies benefit from economies of scale, where fixed costs like infrastructure, technology, and administration are spread over a higher volume of goods or services, reducing the cost per unit. Scale can also lead to bargaining power with suppliers, greater brand recognition, and more investment firepower. A virtuous cycle can ensue if a scaled company plays its cards right. With $76.39 billion in revenue over the past 12 months, HCA Healthcare is one of the most scaled enterprises in healthcare. This is particularly important because hospital chains companies are volume-driven businesses due to their low margins. We track the long-term change in earnings per share (EPS) because it highlights whether a company’s growth is profitable. HCA Healthcare’s EPS grew at 19.9% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years, higher than its 7.7% annualized revenue growth. This tells us the company became more profitable on a per-share basis as it expanded. Growth gives us insight into a company’s long-term potential, but how capital-efficient was that growth? A company’s ROIC explains this by showing how much operating profit it makes compared to the money it has raised (debt and equity). HCA Healthcare’s five-year average ROIC was 28.8%, placing it among the best healthcare companies. This illustrates its management team’s ability to invest in highly profitable ventures and produce tangible results for shareholders. These are just a few reasons why we think HCA Healthcare is a high-quality business. With the recent decline, the stock trades at 13.5× forward P/E (or $423.55 per share). Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free. ONE MORE THING: Top 5 Growth Stocks. The biggest stock winners almost always had one thing in common before the...

Based in Nashville, Tennessee, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is one of the largest healthcare services companies in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, it operates hospitals and outpatient facilities, providing a wide range of medical services and patient care. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $87.2 billion. HCA is expected to report its Q2 earnings soon. Ahead of the release, analysts expect the company to report diluted EPS of $7.37, representing a 7.8% increase from $6.84 in the year-ago quarter. HCA Healthcare has exceeded Wall Street's EPS estimates in three of its last four quarters, while missing expectations in the previous quarter. CEO Phong Le Bought 11,000 Shares of MicroStrategy Preferred Stock as STRC Hit All-Time Lows S&P Futures Slip With Focus on U.S. ADP Jobs Report and Warsh’s Remarks Analysts at UBS Say Advanced Micro Devices Stock Could Rally to $670 Get exclusive insights with the FREE Barchart Brief newsletter. Subscribe now for quick, incisive midday market analysis you won't find anywhere else. For fiscal 2026, analysts expect HCA to report EPS of $30.07, up 6.6% from $28.21 in fiscal 2025. Looking ahead, EPS is projected to grow another 9.7% year over year to $32.98 in fiscal 2027. HCA stock has gained just 1% over the past 52 weeks, significantly underperforming the S&P 500 Index ($SPX), which returned 20.7%, and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLV), which gained 16.7% over the same period. Despite its grim price performance over the past year, HCA's fundamentals tell a different story. Strong U.S. healthcare hiring points to sustained demand for hospital services, while rising patient volumes, higher admissions, improving revenue per admission, and robust operating cash flow continue to support earnings growth. Investors are also encouraged by HCA's capacity expansion, share buybacks, and analysts' expectations of roughly 30% upside. Analysts remain reasonably bullish on HCA, with the stock carrying a "Moderate Buy" consensus rating. Among the 25 analysts covering the stock, 14 recommend a "Strong Buy," one suggests a "Moderate Buy," nine recommend a "Hold," and one recommends a "Strong Sell." The average analyst price target of $493.27 implies a potential upside of 25.4% from current price levels. On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirect...

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is one of the 10 Most Undervalued American Stocks to Invest In. On June 29, 2026, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) announced new research published in The New England Journal of Medicine showing promising results from a gene-editing therapy being investigated in children ages 5-11 with severe sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. The study evaluated exa-cel, a CRISPR-based cell therapy currently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for eligible patients ages 12 and older with sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta thalassemia. Among participants followed long enough to evaluate the primary endpoints, all eight children with beta thalassemia achieved transfusion independence for at least 12 months, while all eight children with sickle cell disease remained free from severe vaso-occlusive crises for at least 12 months. On June 22, TD Cowen analyst Ryan Langston lowered the firm’s price target on HCA Healthcare to $431 from $500 and kept a Buy rating. Langston reduced TD Cowen’s 2026 and 2027 growth assumptions after its May hospital survey showed flat year-over-year revenue. Survey commentary pointed to weaker surgical volumes that were partially offset by growth in medical volumes. In an 8-K filing, HCA Healthcare said Dr. Michael Cuffe and the company agreed on June 15 that Dr. Cuffe will step down as Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Officer effective August 31, 2026. Dr. Cuffe will then continue in a transitional role with the company until February 2027 and will be eligible to receive benefits under HCA Healthcare’s executive severance policy and applicable incentive plans. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) provides health care services in the United States. While we acknowledge the potential of HCA as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 33 Stocks That Should Double in 3 Years and Cathie Wood 2026 Portfolio: 10 Best Stocks to Buy. Disclosure: None. Follow Insider Monkey on Google News.

Tenet Healthcare Corporation THC reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $4.82, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 14.5%. The bottom line increased 10.6% year over year. Net operating revenues advanced 2.8% year over year to $5.37 billion. The top line marginally missed the consensus mark by 0.4%. The quarterly results benefited from strong same-facility revenue growth and higher adjusted admissions, along with solid contributions from acquisitions that supported the Ambulatory Care segment. However, the upside was partly offset by an unfavorable payer mix and higher operating costs, particularly elevated supply expenses. Tenet Healthcare Corporation price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Tenet Healthcare Corporation Quote Adjusted net income of $422 million climbed 1.9% year over year in the quarter. Adjusted EBITDA of $1.2 billion surpassed our estimate of $1.1 billion, driven by solid same-facility revenue growth and disciplined expense management. However, the metric dipped 0.1% year over year due to an unfavorable payer mix, reflecting lower exchange admissions. Adjusted EBITDA margin contracted 70 basis points year over year to 21.6%. Salaries, wages and benefits increased 2.6% year over year to $2.2 billion in the first quarter, while supply costs rose 6% and net other operating expenses increased 2.9%. Ambulatory Care: The segment’s net operating revenues climbed 10.6% year over year to $1.3 billion in the quarter, driven by strong growth in consolidated same-facility net patient service revenues, contributions from facility acquisitions and an expansion of service lines. The metric topped our estimate by 2.3%. Adjusted EBITDA was $484 million, which advanced 6.1% year over year. The metric missed our estimate by 2.6%. Adjusted EBITDA margin deteriorated 150 bps year over year to 36.7%. Hospital Operations and Services: The segment recorded net operating revenues of $4.05 billion, which inched up 0.5% year over year driven by higher adjusted admissions, partly offset by an unfavorable payer mix. The metric missed our model estimate by 1.6%. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 4.1% year over year to $678 million in the quarter, affected by an unfavorable payer mix. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 16.7% was down 80 bps year over year. Tenet Healthcare exited the first quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $2.97 billion, which im...

Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. MD reported first-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 44 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 18.9%. The bottom line increased 33.3% year over year. Net revenues increased 3.9% year over year to $476.2 million. The top line exceeded the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2%. The strong performance was driven by improved reimbursements, along with contributions from recent acquisitions and better same-unit performance. However, these gains were partly offset by lower patient volumes and slightly higher operating costs. Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Pediatrix Medical Group, Inc. Quote Same-unit revenues increased 2.8% year over year, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate. Same-unit revenues from patient service volumes declined 1.6% year over year. Same-unit revenues from net reimbursement-related factors grew 4.4% year over year. This growth was supported by improved cash collections, higher administrative fees from hospital contracts, more patient cases and a slightly better payor mix. This metric exceeded both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate of 1%. Total operating expenses were $434.5 million, up 1.9% year over year. The figure was higher than our estimate of $426.1 million. The year-over-year increase was primarily due to higher depreciation and amortization and general and administrative expenses. Practice salaries and benefits totaled $345.7 million, up 2.6% year over year, mainly due to higher same-unit clinical salary expenses. Interest expense decreased 9.7% year over year to $8.3 million. The figure was below our estimate of $8.9 million due to lower interest rates and borrowings. Adjusted EBITDA rose 18.3% year over year to $58.2 million, driven by favorable same-unit performance and contributions from recent acquisitions. Pediatrix Medical exited the first quarter of 2026 with cash and cash equivalents of $205.8 million, down from $375.2 million as of Dec. 31, 2025. There were no outstanding borrowings on its revolving credit facility at the end of the quarter. Total assets of $2.1 billion decreased from $2.2 billion at the end of 2025. Total debt, including finance leases, net was $590.8 million, which fell from $597.3 million at the end of 2025. Total shareholders’ equity of $878.6 million improved from $865.9 million at the end of 2025. Oper...

Teladoc Health, Inc. TDOC reported a first-quarter 2026 adjusted loss of 36 cents per share, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a 32-cent loss. This marks an improvement from a loss of 53 cents per share in the same quarter last year. Operating revenues declined 2% year over year to $613.8 million but modestly exceeded the consensus estimate by 0.3%. The quarterly results were primarily impacted by weakness in the BetterHelp segment and declining subscription revenues, which were partially offset by strength in the Integrated Care segment, international growth and cost efficiencies. Teladoc Health, Inc. price-consensus-eps-surprise-chart | Teladoc Health, Inc. Quote Revenues from access fees totaled $484.7 million, down 8% year over year. The figure missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $506.5 million as well as our estimate of $506.9 million. Other revenues increased 25% year over year to $129.2 million. The metric beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $106.7 million and our estimate of $106.1 million. On a geographical basis, Teladoc Health generated $491.5 million in revenues from the United States, down 6% year over year. The metric lagged the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $502 million. International revenues of $122.3 million advanced 17% year over year in the quarter and surpassed the consensus mark of $111 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 0.1% year over year to $58.2 million and beat our estimate of around $50.5 million. Total costs and expenses of $675.6 million declined 9.9% year over year and were below our estimate of $679.8 million. The year-over-year decrease was primarily due to goodwill impairment and lower advertising and marketing and general and administrative expenses. The Integrated Care segment’s revenues increased 2% year over year to $395.4 million in the reported quarter. The figure beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $391.8 million and our estimate of $390.3 million. Adjusted EBITDA rose 12% year over year to $56.3 million and surpassed the consensus mark of $52.3 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin expanded 130 basis points (bps) year over year to 14.2%. The BetterHelp segment generated revenues of $218.4 million, down 9% year over year. The metric missed our estimate of $222.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA declined 75% year over year to $1.9 million. The figure missed the consensus mark of $2.8 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin of 0....

HCA Healthcare’s first quarter results in 2026 were met with a negative market reaction, despite matching Wall Street’s revenue and profit expectations. Management highlighted that the primary drivers behind the results were a significantly milder respiratory season and the impact of a severe winter storm, both of which depressed patient volumes, especially in admissions and emergency room visits. CEO Samuel Hazen noted, “Compared to the first quarter of last year, our respiratory-related admissions were down 42%.” These volume shortfalls, however, were mostly offset by higher-than-expected benefits from state Medicaid supplemental programs and ongoing cost efficiencies. Management acknowledged the challenging operating environment, especially as payer mix shifts and state program uncertainties introduced variability in performance. Is now the time to buy HCA? Find out in our full research report (it’s free). Revenue: $19.11 billion vs analyst estimates of $19.08 billion (4.3% year-on-year growth, in line) Adjusted EPS: $7.15 vs analyst expectations of $7.13 (in line) Adjusted EBITDA: $3.80 billion vs analyst estimates of $3.85 billion (19.9% margin, 1.4% miss) Operating Margin: 15%, in line with the same quarter last year Market Capitalization: $96.66 billion While we enjoy listening to the management's commentary, our favorite part of earnings calls are the analyst questions. Those are unscripted and can often highlight topics that management teams would rather avoid or topics where the answer is complicated. Here is what has caught our attention. Ben Hendrix (RBC Capital Markets) asked for clarification on the main drivers behind the quarter’s EBITDA shortfall. CFO Mike Marks explained that the key factors were lower seasonal volume and winter storm impacts, mostly offset by higher Medicaid supplemental benefits. Ann Hynes (Mizuho Securities) inquired about the timing of the Florida Medicaid supplemental program approval and the impact of rising uninsured and bad debt. Marks said they are optimistic about Florida’s approval but cautioned that patient collections from exchanges remain challenging. Whit Mayo (Leerink Partners) pressed on changes in payer behavior, especially regarding denials and underpayments. Marks described increased denial activity industry-wide but said HCA’s investments in revenue cycle management and digital integration are helping m...

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (IDXX) : Free Stock Analysis Report HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com). Zacks Investment Research

HCA Healthcare reported its first-quarter 2026 results, with sales rising to US$19.11 billion from US$18.32 billion and net income edging up to US$1.62 billion, while diluted EPS from continuing operations increased to US$7.15 from US$6.45 a year earlier. Beneath these headline figures, a steep drop in respiratory-related volumes and weather disruptions meant Medicaid supplemental programs played an important role in supporting overall performance. Next, we will examine how resilient earnings despite weaker hospital volumes could influence HCA Healthcare’s existing investment narrative and risk balance. We've uncovered the 13 dividend fortresses yielding 5%+ that don't just survive market storms, but thrive in them. To stay invested in HCA Healthcare, you need to believe its scale and operating discipline can support earnings even when hospital volumes soften. The latest quarter broadly fits that view, with resilient profit and reaffirmed guidance, but it also underlines how dependent near term results can be on Medicaid supplemental programs and the evolving policy backdrop, which remain the key catalyst and one of the biggest risks. Overall, the news does not materially change that balance. Against this context, the January 2026 announcement of a new US$10,000,000,000 share repurchase authorization stands out. It signals that management is comfortable returning substantial capital while continuing to invest in operations, which can amplify the impact of steady earnings on per share metrics, but it also increases the importance of maintaining cash flows if reimbursement or Medicaid-related revenues become more volatile. Yet behind the steady headline earnings, investors should be aware that reliance on Medicaid supplemental programs could... Read the full narrative on HCA Healthcare (it's free!) HCA Healthcare's narrative projects $87.2 billion revenue and $7.6 billion earnings by 2029. This requires 4.9% yearly revenue growth and about a $0.8 billion earnings increase from $6.8 billion today. Uncover how HCA Healthcare's forecasts yield a $543.05 fair value, a 15% upside to its current price. Four members of the Simply Wall St Community value HCA between US$542.67 and US$890.11 per share, showing a wide spread of expectations. You should weigh those views alongside the current reliance on Medicaid supplemental programs, which could shape how consistent HCA...

This article first appeared on GuruFocus. Revenue Increase: 4.3% compared to the first quarter last year. Adjusted EBITDA Increase: Almost 2% year-over-year. Diluted Earnings Per Share (Adjusted): Increased approximately 11% versus the prior year period. Same-Facility Admissions: Increased 0.9% compared to the first quarter of 2025. Equivalent Admissions: Increased 1.3% year-over-year. Inpatient Surgeries: Decreased 0.3% year-over-year. Outpatient Surgeries: Declined 1.7% year-over-year. ER Visits: Increased 0.3% year-over-year. Adjusted EBITDA Margin: Decreased 50 basis points versus prior year quarter. Capital Expenditures: Totaled $1.1 billion in the quarter. Share Repurchases: $1.57 billion of outstanding shares purchased. Dividends Paid: $183 million for the quarter. Cash Flow from Operations: $2 billion, a 22% increase versus the prior year quarter. Network Expansion: Sites of care expanded by more than 4%, hospital beds increased by almost 1%, and emergency room capacity added 4% compared to the first quarter last year. Warning! GuruFocus has detected 2 Warning Sign with ORC. Is HCA fairly valued? Test your thesis with our free DCF calculator. Release Date: April 24, 2026 For the complete transcript of the earnings call, please refer to the full earnings call transcript. HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) experienced a greater net benefit than anticipated from state supplemental programs, which mostly offset the shortfall in volumes. Revenue increased by 4.3% compared to the first quarter of the previous year, with adjusted EBITDA increasing by almost 2% and diluted earnings per share rising approximately 11%. The company reported improved quality measures, increased patient satisfaction, and reductions in the average length of stay. HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) continues to invest significantly in network development, expanding overall sites of care by more than 4% and increasing hospital beds through capital spending by almost 1%. The digital transformation program and AI agenda are progressing, with key initiatives being rolled out to more facilities, enhancing quality, safety, and services to patients. Respiratory-related admissions and emergency room visits were significantly down, with admissions decreasing by 42% and ER visits by 32% compared to the previous year. A winter storm adversely impacted volumes in several markets, including Texas, Tennes...