Core Insights - HCA Healthcare reported fourth-quarter earnings of $8.01 per share, surpassing analyst expectations of $7.45, leading to a 6% increase in pre-market trading [1] - Revenue for the quarter was $19.51 billion, a 6.7% year-over-year increase, although it fell short of the forecasted $19.67 billion [1] Financial Performance - Same-facility admissions rose by 2.4% year-over-year, while equivalent admissions increased by 2.5% [2] - Revenue per equivalent admission grew by 2.9% year-over-year, indicating improved pricing trends [2] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 10.8% to $4.11 billion, with margins expanding to 21.1% from 20.3% a year earlier [2] Future Outlook - HCA issued a positive outlook for 2026, projecting earnings between $29.10 and $31.50 per share, exceeding the analyst consensus of $27.70 [3] - The company also forecasts revenue between $76.5 billion and $80.0 billion, surpassing expectations of $75.74 billion [3]