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Investing.com -- HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) reported third-quarter earnings that significantly exceeded analyst expectations, prompting the hospital operator to raise its full-year outlook as patient volumes and revenue per admission showed solid growth.
The company posted adjusted earnings of $6.96 per share for the quarter ended September 30, handily beating analyst estimates of $5.72. Revenue rose 9.6% YoY to $19.16 billion, surpassing the consensus forecast of $18.56 billion. Same facility admissions increased 2.1% while revenue per equivalent admission grew 6.6% compared to the same period last year.
HCA Healthcare shares rose 3.9% following the announcement.
"Our teams continued to execute our agenda at a high level, and we remain disciplined in our efforts to improve care for our patients by increasing access, investing in advanced technology, and training our people," said Sam Hazen, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Healthcare.
The company’s Adjusted EBITDA increased 18.5% to $3.87 billion compared to the third quarter of 2024. Same facility emergency room visits rose 1.3%, while inpatient surgeries increased 1.4% and outpatient surgeries grew 1.1%.
HCA raised its full-year 2025 guidance, now projecting earnings of $27.00 to $28.00 per share, up from its previous forecast of $25.50 to $27.00 and above the analyst consensus of $26.35. The company also increased its revenue outlook to $75-76.5 billion from the previous range of $74-76 billion.
During the quarter, HCA repurchased 6.51 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $2.5 billion and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.72 per share, payable on December 29.