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AUNA vs. THC: Which Ambulatory Care Stock Is the Smarter Bet Now?
ZACKS· 2026-03-31 13:27
Core Insights - Auna S.A. and Tenet Healthcare are prominent players in the ambulatory care sector, with Auna focusing on Latin America and Tenet on the U.S. market [1][15] Auna S.A. Overview - Auna operates a differentiated healthcare model in Spanish-speaking Latin America, addressing the fragmented private healthcare market [3] - In Peru, Auna's performance is bolstered by a strong pricing mix and a record low medical loss ratio, alongside a public-private partnership to expand its market [3][4] - The company is experiencing revenue recovery in Mexico, with a focus on expanding its reach to privately insured families and enhancing physician group alignment [4] - Auna is enhancing its oncology capabilities and implementing risk-sharing models in Colombia, which are yielding positive cash flow results [5] - Auna completed a $825 million debt refinancing, improving its capital structure and increasing cash position by 42% [6][7] Tenet Healthcare Overview - Tenet reported net operating revenues of $21.3 billion in 2025, a 14% increase from the previous year, with an adjusted EBITDA margin improvement of 200 basis points to 21.4% [8][12] - The company added 35 facilities to its portfolio in 2025, with a strong pipeline for M&A activity in 2026 [9] - Tenet's Hospital segment saw a 16% adjusted EBITDA growth, with new facility openings supporting capacity expansion [10] - The expiration of enhanced exchange tax credits is expected to impact Tenet's 2026 adjusted EBITDA, leading to lower volume growth [11] - Tenet held $2.88 billion in cash as of December 31, with a free cash flow of $2.53 billion and a leverage ratio of 2.25X EBITDA [12] Market Trends - The global ambulatory healthcare service market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.7% from 2026 to 2033, driven by increased demand for outpatient care and advancements in medical technology [2] - Auna's shares have increased by 7.4% year-to-date, while Tenet's shares have decreased by 5.4% [13] - Auna trades at a forward price/sales ratio of 0.31X, lower than its median, while Tenet trades at 0.75X, higher than its median [14] Conclusion - Both Auna S.A. and Tenet Healthcare are well-positioned to capitalize on industry trends, with Auna's strong performance in Peru and recovery in Mexico, and Tenet's steady performance across its segments [15][16] - Auna is currently viewed as the more compelling investment option based on valuation and performance metrics [16]
Will Lower Patient Days Affect Tenet Healthcare's Q3 Earnings?
ZACKS· 2025-10-23 17:46
Core Insights - Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC) is scheduled to report its third-quarter 2025 results on October 28, 2025, with earnings estimated at $3.33 per share and revenues of $5.24 billion, reflecting year-over-year increases of 13.7% and 2.2% respectively [1][6] Financial Performance - The earnings estimate for the third quarter has remained stable over the past 60 days, indicating a year-over-year increase of 13.7%, while the revenue estimate suggests a growth of 2.2% [2] - For the full year 2025, the revenue estimate stands at $21.16 billion, implying a rise of 2.4% year-over-year, and the earnings per share estimate is $15.82, indicating a significant jump of 33.2% year-over-year [3] Earnings Prediction - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Tenet Healthcare, as it has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) [4] - The consensus estimate for adjusted patient admissions in total hospital operations suggests a 2.7% year-over-year growth, but on a same-hospital basis, there is a projected decrease of 5.7% [5] Segment Performance - The Ambulatory Care segment is expected to show strong performance, with operating revenues estimated to grow by 8.5% year-over-year, while the consensus indicates a 10.7% increase [7] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Hospital Operations and Services revenues is pegged at $3.99 billion, reflecting a slight increase of 0.2% from the previous year [8] Operational Challenges - Total hospital patient days are expected to decrease by 4.4% year-over-year, and the average length of stay is projected to decline by 8.8% [9][10] - Increased utilization is anticipated to lead to higher operating costs, contributing to uncertainty regarding an earnings beat [10]