Community Health Systems

HCA Reports Solid Volume, Profit In Preliminary 1Q Results

HCA Holdings Inc.

(HCA) provided a forecast Thursday for its first-quarter patient volume and profit that provided relief to a sector beset by pressures from the economy and the government's budget.Shares in HCA and other hospital operators climbed broadly on the news. HCA shares rose 4.3% at $27.88, while Universal Health Services Inc. (UHS) added 5.3%, Tenet Healthcare Corp. (THC) gained 6.1% and Community Health Systems Inc. (CYH) increased 4.9%.HCA, the largest for-profit hospital operator in the U.S., reported same-facility admissions increased 3.2% in the first quarter, compared with a 1.6% increase a year earlier and 2.5% growth in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo analyst Gary Lieberman noted the first-quarter rate ties HCA's best quarterly volume growth in four years."Volumes have probably been one of the topics investors have focused on the most for past few years," he said.HCA also gave a upbeat projection for a key profit metric. It forecast adjusted earnings before interest,...

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