HCA Holdings Stock Rises 2% On Better Than Expected Third-quarter Profit

HCA Holdings Inc. shares rose as much as 4.2% in premarket trade Thursday after the company reported better than expected profit. Net income for the latest quarter rose to $618 million, or $1.59 per share, from $449 million, or $1.05 per share, in the year-earlier period. The FactSet earnings-per-share consensus was $1.42. The latest results include a reduction in its income tax provision, an $11 million tax benefit and $11 million legal claim costs. Revenue rose to $10.27 billion from $9.86 billion, compared with the FactSet consensus of $10.37 billion. HCA stock rose 16.7% year-to-date, compared with a 4.7% rise in the S&P 500 .