"Company†), a leading provider of technology-enabled mobile health and medical transportation services, today announced that it has acquired virtual care platform SteadyMD, Inc. Management will host a conference call and webcast on Tuesday, October 21 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss this acquisition. SteadyMD powers high-quality telehealth experiences for digital health companies, labs, pharmacies, employers, and other healthcare. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DocGo Inc. (Nasdaq: DCGO) ("DocGo†or the ...

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Core Viewpoint - Teladoc (TDOC) has received an upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on an upward trend in earnings estimates [1][3]. Earnings Estimates and Stock Price Impact - The Zacks rating system is driven by changes in a company's earnings picture, which significantly influences stock price movements [2][4]. - An increase in earnings estimates typically leads to higher fair value calculations by institutional investors, resulting in buying or selling actions that affect stock prices [4]. Business Improvement Indicators - The rising earnings estimates for Teladoc suggest an improvement in the company's underlying business, which could lead to increased stock prices as investors respond positively [5][10]. - Over the past three months, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for Teladoc has increased by 7.3%, indicating a positive trend in earnings expectations [8]. Zacks Rank System Overview - The Zacks Rank system classifies stocks into five groups based on earnings estimates, with a strong historical performance, particularly for Zacks Rank 1 stocks, which have generated an average annual return of +25% since 1988 [7]. - Only the top 20% of Zacks-covered stocks receive a "Strong Buy" or "Buy" rating, highlighting their superior earnings estimate revision features [9][10].

Company Overview - LifeMD is a smaller player in the telehealth sector, positioning itself as a "direct-to-patient telehealth company" that offers a high-quality, cost-effective, and convenient way to access comprehensive virtual and in-home healthcare [1] Investment Insights - The focus on small-cap opportunities suggests a strategy aimed at finding asymmetric upside potential in the market, particularly through sustainable high dividend yields [2] - Key factors for investment consideration include insider buying, high insider ownership, a history of free cash flow growth, and substantial catalysts for turnaround [2] Analyst Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in LifeMD shares, indicating confidence in the company's future performance [3]

Company Overview - LifeMD (NASDAQ: LFMD) is a smaller player in the telehealth sector, positioning itself as a "direct-to-patient telehealth company" that offers a high-quality, cost-effective, and convenient way to access comprehensive virtual and in-home healthcare [1] Investment Insights - The focus on small-cap opportunities suggests a strategy aimed at finding asymmetric upside potential in the market, particularly through sustainable high dividend yields [2] - Key investment criteria include insider buying, high insider ownership, a long history of free cash flow growth, and substantial catalysts for turnaround [2] Analyst Position - The analyst has a beneficial long position in LifeMD shares, indicating confidence in the company's future performance [3]

Core Points - Health Net is responding to the State of Emergency declared by Governor Newsom in Tuolumne County due to the TCU Lightning Complex Fires, prioritizing support for affected members and healthcare providers [1] - The company is offering emergency medication supplies and telehealth services at no cost for members unable to reach their primary care providers [2][4] - Health Net is providing various support services, including mental health counseling, social services, and financial assistance, to help members cope with the crisis [4] Member Support - Members can fill prescriptions at their original pharmacy if open; if not, they can obtain medications at out-of-network pharmacies without refill limitations [4] - Health Net offers 24/7 crisis support through Behavioral Health Services and telehealth services for members [2][4] - Access to local community resources is available through 2-1-1 or 211.org for additional support [2] Healthcare Provider Support - Healthcare providers can contact Health Net for assistance during the emergency [3] - The company is extending grace periods for notifications related to various healthcare services and waiving prior authorization requirements [4] - Health Net will authorize out-of-network services if local providers are unavailable and accept updated clinical documentation for continued care [4] Company Overview - Health Net, a subsidiary of Centene Corporation, has been operating in California for over 45 years, serving more than three million members with a network of over 117,000 providers [6] - The company offers a range of health plans and services, including behavioral health and substance abuse programs [6] - Health Net is committed to transforming community health and employs over 5,700 people in California [6]

Company Performance - Teladoc (TDOC) ended the recent trading session at $8.37, demonstrating a +2.2% change from the preceding day's closing price, outperforming the S&P 500's daily loss of 0.55% [1] - The shares have seen an increase of 6.78% over the last month, surpassing the Medical sector's loss of 0.2% and the S&P 500's gain of 3.64% [1] Earnings Forecast - The upcoming earnings release is forecasted to report an EPS of -$0.26, showcasing a 36.84% downward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year [2] - Revenue is expected to be $625.56 million, showing a 2.33% drop compared to the year-ago quarter [2] Annual Estimates - For the annual period, the Zacks Consensus Estimates anticipate earnings of -$1.17 per share and a revenue of $2.52 billion, signifying shifts of +80.07% and -1.82%, respectively, from the last year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates indicate the ever-changing nature of near-term business trends, with positive revisions conveying analysts' confidence in business performance and profit potential [3] Zacks Rank and Industry Performance - The Zacks Rank system, which ranges from 1 (Strong Buy) to 5 (Strong Sell), has a proven track record of outperformance, with 1 stocks returning an average of +25% annually since 1988 [5] - Teladoc currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with the Medical Services industry ranking in the top 42% of all industries [5] Industry Evaluation - The Zacks Industry Rank evaluates the power of distinct industry groups, showing that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1 [6]

Company Performance - Teladoc's stock closed at $7.49, down 3.97%, underperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.3% [1] - Over the past month, Teladoc shares appreciated by 13.54%, outperforming the Medical sector's gain of 7.07% and the S&P 500's gain of 2.09% [1] Earnings Projections - The upcoming earnings release projects an earnings per share (EPS) of -$0.24, a 26.32% decrease from the same quarter last year [2] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is $625.56 million, down 2.33% from the year-ago period [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project an EPS of -$1.17 and revenue of $2.52 billion, reflecting changes of +80.07% and -1.82% respectively from the preceding year [3] - Recent changes to analyst estimates indicate a shifting business landscape, with positive revisions suggesting optimism about the business outlook [3] Zacks Rank and Industry Position - The Zacks Rank system, which assesses estimate changes, currently ranks Teladoc as 3 (Hold) [5] - The Medical Services industry, part of the Medical sector, holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 146, placing it in the bottom 41% of over 250 industries [6]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry includes for-profit hospital companies providing various healthcare services, such as acute care, rehabilitation, and psychiatric services [3] - Revenue generation is influenced by inpatient occupancy levels, medical services ordered by physicians, and outpatient procedure volumes [3] - Payments for services come from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, managed care plans, private insurers, and directly from patients [3] Key Trends - Rising patient demand is noted, particularly with an increase in elective procedures, while the 65+ population is projected to grow from 17.3% in 2022 to 22.8% by 2050 [4] - Health spending is expected to reach $5.3 trillion by 2025, but there is a shift from inpatient to outpatient and home-based services, leading to underused hospital beds [4] - Labor shortages, higher wages, and supply chain disruptions are squeezing hospital margins, prompting providers to adopt automation and refine staffing models [5] - Hospitals are investing in AI, automation, and real-time analytics to improve care delivery and operational efficiency [6] Consolidation and M&A Activity - Consolidation through mergers and acquisitions is a key strategy for hospitals to scale operations and increase market share in a fragmented market [2] - Post-pandemic, M&A activity has rebounded as hospitals seek efficiency and financial resilience, driven by economic recovery and regulatory clarity [7] Financial Performance and Outlook - The Zacks Medical-Hospital industry currently holds a Zacks Industry Rank of 181, placing it in the bottom 26% of nearly 250 Zacks industries, indicating challenging near-term prospects [8] - Aggregate earnings estimates for the industry have decreased by 0.2% since February-end, reflecting a negative outlook for earnings growth [9] - The industry has gained 4.2% over the past year, underperforming the S&P 500's 13.1% but outperforming the broader Medical sector's decline of 17.6% [11] Current Valuation - The industry trades at a trailing 12-month EV/EBITDA ratio of 7.84X, compared to the S&P 500's 17.79X and the sector's 9.72X [14] - Over the past five years, the industry's EV/EBITDA ratio has ranged from a high of 9.55X to a low of 6.45X, with a median of 8.03X [14] Notable Companies - **HCA Healthcare**: Positioned to benefit from rising patient volumes, with a projected 15% year-over-year EPS growth for 2025 and a 5.7% revenue increase [18] - **Tenet Healthcare Corporation**: Strong revenue growth driven by its Ambulatory Care and Hospital segments, with projected revenue of $20.9 billion for 2025 [22] - **Universal Health Services**: Growth supported by rising patient days and network expansion, with projected EPS growth of 17% for 2025 [26] - **Community Health Systems**: Benefiting from higher occupancy rates and a growing telehealth focus, with projected EPS growth of 69.9% for 2025 [31]

Company Performance - Teladoc's stock closed at $8.58, down 1.49%, underperforming the S&P 500 which lost 0.11% [1] - Over the past month, Teladoc shares gained 26.78%, significantly outperforming the Medical sector's gain of 1.66% and the S&P 500's gain of 5.17% [1] Earnings Expectations - The upcoming earnings report is expected to show an EPS of -$0.27, a 3.57% increase from the same quarter last year [2] - Revenue is projected at $621.69 million, down 3.23% from the previous year [2] Full Year Projections - For the full year, analysts expect earnings of -$1.2 per share and revenue of $2.52 billion, reflecting changes of +79.56% and -2.12% respectively from last year [3] - Recent revisions in analyst estimates are crucial as they indicate confidence in the company's performance and profit potential [3] Zacks Rank and Industry Position - The Zacks Rank system currently rates Teladoc as 3 (Hold), with a recent 6.59% decrease in the EPS estimate over the last 30 days [5] - The Medical Services industry, which includes Teladoc, has a Zacks Industry Rank of 68, placing it in the top 28% of over 250 industries [6]