HCA Healthcare jumps after company raises annual profit forecast

Universal Health Services

23/07/2024 13:31

** Shares of hospital operator HCA Healthcare  HCA.N  jump
6% to $345 premarket 
    ** The largest for-profit hospital operator raises its 2024
profit guidance on robust demand for medical care 
    ** HCA now expects 2024 profit in the range of $21.60 to
$22.80 per share, compared with its previous estimate of $19.70
to $21.20
    ** Analysts were expecting an annual profit of $20.98 per
share, according to LSEG data 
    ** Co also posts second-quarter profit of $5.50 per share,
beating LSEG estimates of $4.88, helped by higher patient
admissions and easing staffing costs
    ** Results and forecast raise from HCA also lift shares of
other U.S. hospital operators 
    ** Community Health Systems  CYH.N  up 3% and Universal
Health Services  UHS.N  up 2.7% premarket 
    ** As of last close, HCA up 20.2%, CYH up 26.2% and UHS up
~19% YTD 
    
   

 (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru)
 ((Bhanvi.Satija@thomsonreuters.com; Outside U.S. +91
9873062788;))