Encompass Health Q2 Earnings Beat Estimates, Stock Up 7.4%

Core Insights - Encompass Health Corp (EHC) shares increased by 7.4% following the release of its second-quarter 2025 results, driven by strong net patient revenue and capacity expansion, despite elevated operating expenses [1][2][3] Financial Performance - Adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for Q2 2025 reached $1.40, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 16.7% and reflecting a 26.1% year-over-year increase [2][8] - Net operating revenues rose 12% year-over-year to $1.5 billion, surpassing consensus estimates by 2.3% [2][8] - Net patient revenue per discharge grew 4.2% year-over-year to $21.7 billion, with total discharges increasing by 7.2% to 65,237 [3][4] Operating Expenses - Total operating expenses amounted to $1.2 billion, a 10.4% increase year-over-year, primarily due to higher salaries and benefits [3][4] Income and Cash Flow - Net income for Q2 2025 was $184.9 million, up 26.2% year-over-year [4][6] - Adjusted EBITDA improved 17.4% year-over-year to $318.6 million, exceeding estimates [4][6] - Net cash from operations reached $270.2 million, a 24.3% increase year-over-year, with adjusted free cash flow rising 30.5% to $185.9 million [6] Capital Deployment - EHC repurchased shares worth $24.7 million during the quarter and had approximately $433 million remaining under its buyback authorization [7] - The company declared a quarterly cash dividend of 17 cents per share, which was increased to 19 cents in July [7] 2025 Outlook - The company raised its 2025 net operating revenue forecast to between $5.88 billion and $5.98 billion, indicating a 10.4% increase from 2024 [9][10] - Adjusted EPS for 2025 is now expected to be between $5.12 and $5.34, reflecting an 18.1% growth from 2024 [10] - Adjusted free cash flow is projected to be between $705 million and $795 million, up from previous guidance [10] Growth Strategy - EHC plans to open seven de novo hospitals and add 340 beds, with expectations to add 100-120 beds to existing hospitals in 2025 [11] - The company aims for a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6-8% in discharges from 2023 to 2027 [12]