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FRANKLIN, Tenn. - Community Health Systems, Inc. (NYSE: CYH), currently trading at $2.49 per share and operating with annual revenues of $12.63 billion, has agreed to sell an 80% stake in Cedar Park Regional Medical Center and related businesses to Ascension Health for $460 million. The deal, which includes cash and adjustments for working capital, will see Ascension Health, already a minority owner, acquire full ownership. According to InvestingPro analysis, this transaction comes at a crucial time as the company’s stock has declined over 54% in the past six months.
The transaction is slated for completion between late second quarter and early third quarter of 2025, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. This divestiture was previously mentioned as a possibility during Community Health Systems’ fourth quarter and year-end earnings call for 2024 and in subsequent public statements. With an EBITDA of $1.25 billion in the last twelve months, the company appears undervalued according to InvestingPro’s Fair Value analysis.
Community Health Systems, one of the largest healthcare providers in the United States, operates healthcare delivery systems in 36 markets across 14 states. The company’s network includes 72 hospitals and over 1,000 care sites such as physician practices and urgent care centers.
The sale is part of the company’s strategy to optimize its portfolio and focus on markets where it has significant healthcare operations. The information is based on a press release statement from Community Health Systems, Inc.
In other recent news, Community Health Systems reported its fourth-quarter earnings, revealing an EBITDA of $428 million, which exceeded projections by 5%. This performance was driven by a 3% increase in both volumes and pricing, resulting in a 4% revenue beat at $3,265 million. However, the company faced challenges with elevated costs for supplies and physician labor. Barclays revised its price target for Community Health to $4.00 from $5.00, maintaining an Equalweight rating following the earnings report. Guggenheim also initiated coverage with a Neutral rating and a price target of $2.40, noting the company’s strategic efforts to streamline operations and improve financial stability.
The company expects to generate at least $550 million from hospital divestitures in 2025, which should positively impact its leverage profile. Community Health’s financial outlook does not currently include potential state-directed payments from Tennessee and New Mexico, which could add $125 million to EBITDA. Additionally, the company has set executive compensation for 2025, including base salary adjustments and equity awards for top executives. These developments are part of Community Health’s broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency and financial health.
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