HCA Healthcare (HCA) Q1 2025 Earnings Call April 25, 2025 04:54 PM ET Company Participants Frank Morgan - VP, Investor RelationsSam Hazen - CEOMike Marks - CFO & Executive Vice PresidentA.J. Rice - Managing DirectorWhit Mayo - Senior Managing DirectorBen Hendrix - Equity Research - Healthcare Services and Managed CareAndrew Mok - DirectorJoshua Raskin - Partner - Managed Care & ProvidersJohn Ransom - Managing Director, Director of Healthcare ResearchLance Wilkes - Managing DirectorBenjamin Rossi - Equity Re ...

Core Insights - Community Health Systems (CYH) reported revenue of $3.16 billion for the quarter ended March 2025, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 0.6% and surpassing the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $3.11 billion by 1.44% [1] - The company posted an EPS of -$0.03, an improvement from -$0.14 a year ago, resulting in a surprise of 70% compared to the consensus estimate of -$0.10 [1] Financial Performance - Revenue increased by 0.6% year-over-year to $3.16 billion [1] - EPS improved from -$0.14 to -$0.03 year-over-year [1] - The company achieved a revenue surprise of 1.44% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate [1] - EPS surprise was 70% compared to the consensus estimate [1] Key Metrics - Number of Hospitals: 73, slightly below the estimated 74 [4] - Licensed Beds: 10,788, below the estimated 11,026 [4] - Patient Days: 468,365, slightly above the estimated 467,459.3 [4] - Admissions: 105,937, exceeding the average estimate of 101,635 [4] - Adjusted Admissions: 230,780, slightly below the estimated 231,737 [4] - Beds in Service: 9,285, above the estimated 9,228 [4] Stock Performance - Community Health Systems shares have returned -14.2% over the past month, compared to the Zacks S&P 500 composite's -6.6% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating potential performance in line with the broader market [3]

Core Insights - Zacks Premium offers tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence, including daily updates, research reports, and stock screens [1] - The Zacks Style Scores provide a framework for evaluating stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, aiding investors in selecting securities likely to outperform the market [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated from A to F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with A being the highest score indicating a better chance of outperforming [3] - The Style Scores are categorized into four types: Value Score, Growth Score, Momentum Score, and VGM Score, each focusing on different investment strategies [3][4][5][6] Value Score - The Value Score identifies undervalued stocks by analyzing financial ratios such as P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow, helping value investors find attractive investment opportunities [3] Growth Score - The Growth Score assesses a company's financial health and future potential by examining projected and historical earnings, sales, and cash flow, targeting stocks with sustainable growth [4] Momentum Score - The Momentum Score focuses on price trends and earnings outlook, helping investors identify optimal times to invest based on recent price changes and earnings estimate adjustments [5] VGM Score - The VGM Score combines all three Style Scores, providing a comprehensive evaluation of stocks based on value, growth, and momentum, assisting investors in narrowing down their choices [6] Zacks Rank Integration - The Zacks Rank utilizes earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building, with 1 (Strong Buy) stocks achieving an average annual return of +25.41% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [7][8] - To maximize returns, investors should focus on stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B, ensuring a higher probability of success [9] Stock Highlight: Universal Health Services (UHS) - Universal Health Services Inc. is rated 1 (Strong Buy) on the Zacks Rank and has a VGM Score of A, indicating strong investment potential [11] - The company is projected to achieve year-over-year earnings growth of 14% for the current fiscal year, supported by positive earnings estimate revisions and a consensus estimate increase of $1.25 to $18.94 per share [12]

MECHANICSBURG, Pa., April 8, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Select Medical Holdings Corporation ("Select Medical") (NYSE: SEM), will release the financial results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2025 on Thursday, May 1, 2025 after the market closes. Select Medical will host a conference call regarding its first quarter results, as well as its business outlook, on Friday, May 2, 2025, at 9:00am ET. The conference call will be a live webcast and can be accessed at via this Earnings Call Webcast Link or via link a ...

Group 1 - The core idea of the articles revolves around the implementation of home care services in Bao'an District, leveraging technology to enhance healthcare accessibility for elderly and disabled patients [1][2][3] - The "Internet + Nursing Services" initiative has expanded from one hospital to cover nine public hospitals and 222 community health institutions in the district, providing comprehensive service coverage [1] - The platform has registered 1,166 senior nurses and 396 specialized nurses, delivering home care services to over 10,000 patients in the past year [1] - The home care service platform offers 14 categories and 64 types of services, with elderly patients constituting over 80% of the service recipients [2] - The integration of AI in service management has reduced transportation time for nurses, allowing them to spend more time on patient care [3]

Financial Performance - For the full year of 2024, total revenue reached $479.9 million, up 94% from $247.6 million in 2023 [11] - Adjusted EBITDA increased from $10.8 million in 2023 to $123.7 million in 2024, representing an increase of over 1,000% [11] - Net income for 2024 was $52 million compared to a loss of $46 million in 2023 [12] - Total visits at the hospital increased by 17% from 144,000 in 2023 to 168,000 in 2024 [12] - Current portion of long-term debt increased slightly from $10.8 million in 2023 to $14 million in 2024, while net long-term debt decreased from $26 million to $22 million [13] Business Line Performance - In Q4 2024, total revenue grew 270% to $257.6 million compared to $69.7 million in Q4 2023, with arbitration contributing $169.7 million to this increase [29] - Mature hospitals saw a revenue increase of 175.6% in Q4 2024 compared to Q4 2023 [30] - The population health division's revenue increased by approximately 11% to $7.9 million in Q4 2024 from $7.1 million in Q4 2023 [31] Market Performance - The company opened four new hospitals in 2024, expanding its network to 24 hospitals across 11 states [23] - The company is targeting high-demand growth markets for future hospital openings, with plans for new facilities in 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 [24] Company Strategy and Industry Competition - The company is focused on increasing hospital volume, inpatient admissions, and revenue per patient through efficient revenue cycle processes like arbitration [26] - The company aims to adapt to industry disruptions, such as the No Surprises Act, and has successfully pivoted to leverage arbitration for better reimbursement rates [27] - The company is integrating AI tools to enhance operational efficiency and patient care [65] Management Commentary on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the future, highlighting the adaptability and resilience of the company in navigating challenges [27] - The arbitration process has shown positive results, with an 80% win rate and significant increases in revenue per visit [21] - The company is committed to maintaining low costs and aggressive debt management while expanding its services [26] Other Important Information - Cash and cash equivalents increased to just under $44 million, up from $22 million in 2023, reflecting a 98.2% increase [45] - Accounts receivable rose to $232 million from $58.6 million at the end of 2023, largely due to the arbitration process [45] Q&A Session Summary Question: Prospective outlook on the arbitration process - Management indicated that arbitration is a tool to collect fair rates and will continue to be used as long as the No Surprises Act is in effect [74] - The company is monitoring the situation closely and expects to have more data as the year progresses [79] Question: Revenue recognition at the time of service - Revenue is recognized at the time of service, with adjustments made post-IDR adjudication based on historical data [94] Question: Spread of IDR amounts over quarters - The company plans to progressively update revenue recognition throughout 2025 based on ongoing data rather than back-loading it [104] Question: Performance of new hospitals - Two of the four new hospitals are performing better than expected, while the other two are meeting expectations [108] Question: Expectations for mature hospitals - The company aims for single-digit growth in ER volume year-over-year while also ramping up other service lines [114]

Core Viewpoint - Community Health Systems, Inc. (CYH) is positioned for growth due to improving same-store volumes, favorable payor mix changes, and reduced contract labor expenses, with strategic improvements and divestitures expected to unlock shareholder value [1] CYH's Tailwinds - Adjusted admissions on a same-store basis improved by 3.1% year over year in the last reported quarter, contributing to a 10.9% year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA to $428 million [2] - The company's occupancy rate has been increasing over the last two years, driven by a growing senior population and rising disease cases, which is expected to continue [2] - Revenue per adjusted admission is growing significantly, supporting top-line growth, while divestitures of non-core assets, such as the recent sale of ShorePoint Health for $260 million, are optimizing the hospital portfolio and improving margins [3] - A partnership with Denim Health to integrate conversational AI technology into the Patient Access Center is streamlining agent workload, potentially leading to cost savings, while decreasing contract labor expenses is also expected to reduce losses [4] - Community Health anticipates adjusted EBITDA to be between $1.45 billion and $1.60 billion in 2025, with net cash from operating activities projected to be between $600 million and $700 million this year [5] CYH's Headwinds - Declining patient days and average length of stay are significant challenges, with patient days dropping by 4.6% year over year in 2023 and 5.3% in 2024, and average length of stay falling by 4.3% in 2023 and 2.2% in 2024 [6] - The company expects a net loss per share to be between 55 cents and breakeven in 2025 [6] - As of December 31, 2024, CYH had cash and cash equivalents of $37 million against long-term debt of $11.4 billion, resulting in a net debt to EBITDA ratio of 9.11X, significantly higher than the industry average of 3.29X [7] - Net interest expense increased by 3.6% in 2024 to $860 million [7] CYH's Earnings Surprise History - Community Health's earnings have only outpaced the Zacks Consensus Estimate in one of the last four quarters, with three misses and an average surprise of negative 263.9% [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported a net income attributable to Universal Health Services per diluted share of $4.96 for Q4 2024, with an adjusted net income of $4.92 per diluted share [6] - Adjusted admissions to acute care hospitals increased by 2.2% year-over-year, while same facility net revenues in the acute care segment rose by 8.7%, driven by a 5.3% increase in net revenue per adjusted admission [6] - Cash generated from operating activities was $658 million in Q4 2024, compared to $452 million in Q4 2023, and $2.067 billion for the full year 2024, up from $1.268 billion in 2023 [9] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Same facility revenues at behavioral health hospitals increased by 11.1%, primarily due to an 8.7% increase in revenue per adjusted patient day [8] - The company recorded $50 million in net incremental reimbursements from various state supplemental Medicaid programs during Q4 2024, exceeding prior projections [9] - Operating expenses were well managed, with premium pay declining to $60 million in Q4 2024, consistent with the previous two quarters [7] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company anticipates a slight decrease in total consolidated Medicaid supplemental payments for 2025 compared to 2024 [13] - The demand for behavioral services remains solid, with a forecasted growth in same facility adjusted patient days of 2.5% to 3% for 2025 [14] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its outpatient presence and broadening its continuum of care, with plans to open new facilities and enhance technology investments in behavioral hospitals [10][14] - The company aims to maintain a leverage level in the high twos, approaching three, while using free cash flow primarily for share repurchases [61][62] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about a more stable operating environment in 2025, with expectations of mid-single-digit EBITDA growth [13][20] - The current political environment presents uncertainty regarding Medicaid reimbursement, but management believes there is significant political support for Medicaid programs at the state level [15][49] Other Important Information - The company spent $944 million on capital expenditures in 2024, consistent with forecasts, and has plans for new hospital openings in 2025 [10][11] - As of December 31, 2024, the company had $1.17 billion of available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility [12] Q&A Session Summary Question: What is driving the higher underlying growth in 2025 despite state supplemental payments forecasted to be down year over year? - Management indicated that core EBITDA growth is driven by solid volume growth, robust pricing, and effective expense control, with a more stable operating environment expected [20] Question: Why is the guidance range for 2025 wider than usual? - Management acknowledged that items beyond their control, such as government reimbursement changes, contribute to the wider range in guidance [24] Question: What is the main reason for the decline in DPP payments? - The decline is primarily due to recognizing DPP payments related to prior periods in 2024, rather than significant changes in specific programs [29] Question: How adequate are the malpractice reserves? - Management stated that they have moved towards the higher end of the range for reserves, hoping to avoid further adjustments in 2025 [32] Question: What are the assumptions for acute revenue growth in 2025? - Management expects mid-single-digit revenue growth in the acute division, split evenly between price and volume [73] Question: How does the company view the impact of the flu season on Q1? - Management noted that while the flu season has been strong, it typically does not have a significant impact on earnings [131] Question: What is the expected impact of new hospital openings on consolidated revenue and EBITDA? - New hospitals are expected to be EBITDA positive, but may cause some cannibalization of existing business, affecting same-store metrics [120]