We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience.
This includes personalizing content and advertising.
By pressing "Accept All" or closing out of this banner, you consent to the use of all cookies and similar technologies and the sharing of information they collect with third parties.
You can reject marketing cookies by pressing "Deny Optional," but we still use essential, performance, and functional cookies.
In addition, whether you "Accept All," Deny Optional," click the X or otherwise continue to use the site, you accept our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service, revised from time to time.
You are being directed to ZacksTrade, a division of LBMZ Securities and licensed broker-dealer. ZacksTrade and Zacks.com are separate companies. The web link between the two companies is not a solicitation or offer to invest in a particular security or type of security. ZacksTrade does not endorse or adopt any particular investment strategy, any analyst opinion/rating/report or any approach to evaluating individual securities.
If you wish to go to ZacksTrade, click OK. If you do not, click Cancel.
Will Rising Costs Hurt HCA Healthcare Q3 Earnings? Key Estimates Here
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
HCA Healthcare will report Q3 2025 results on Oct. 24, with EPS estimated at $5.65 and revenue at $18.5B.
Projected Q3 earnings imply 11.9% year-over-year growth, while revenues are expected to rise 5.8%.
Higher salaries, supply costs, and lower outpatient surgeries could pressure HCA's margins.
Hospital operator HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 24, 2025, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $5.65 per shareon revenues of $18.5 billion.
The third-quarter earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates year-over-year growth of 11.9%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year increase of 5.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s revenues is pegged at $74.86 billion, implying a rise of 6% year over year. The consensus mark for 2025 EPS is pegged at $26.17, implying an increase of 19.2%, year over year.
HCA Healthcare beat the earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 7%. This is depicted in the figure below.
However, our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
HCA has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping HCA Healthcare’s Q3 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s third-quarter equivalent admissions indicates 2% year-over-year growth, while our model estimate suggests a 3.1% increase. The consensus mark for revenue per equivalent admission signals a 3.4% rise from a year ago.
The consensus estimate for occupancy is pegged at 73.4% up from 71.9% a year ago. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for equivalent patient days indicates 0.9% year-over-year growth. While these factors are likely to have positioned HCA Healthcare for growth from the year-ago quarter, rising expenses and lower average length of stay make an earnings beat uncertain.
Our model estimate for third-quarter total operating expenses indicates a 5.9% increase from a year ago, due to higher salaries & benefits, supply costs and other operating expenses. We expect supply costs to jump 9.2% in the to-be-reported quarter.
Both the consensus estimate and our model estimate for outpatient surgery cases suggest a 1.8% fall from a year ago. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for average length of stay indicates a 1.2% decline from the year-ago period.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for HCA Healthcare, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Select Medical’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of 18 cents per share has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past month. The consensus mark for Select Medical’s revenues is pegged at $1.32 billion.
Erasca, Inc. (ERAS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Erasca’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter remained stable over the past week. Erasca’s earnings beat estimates in three of the past four quarters and met once, with an average surprise of 13%.
Envista Holdings Corporation (NVST - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.62% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Envista’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter indicates 125% year-over-year growth. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 16.5%.
See More Zacks Research for These Tickers
Normally $25 each - click below to receive one report FREE:
Image: Bigstock
Will Rising Costs Hurt HCA Healthcare Q3 Earnings? Key Estimates Here
Key Takeaways
Hospital operator HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2025 results on Oct. 24, 2025, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $5.65 per shareon revenues of $18.5 billion.
The third-quarter earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates year-over-year growth of 11.9%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues suggests a year-over-year increase of 5.8%.
For 2025, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s revenues is pegged at $74.86 billion, implying a rise of 6% year over year. The consensus mark for 2025 EPS is pegged at $26.17, implying an increase of 19.2%, year over year.
HCA Healthcare beat the earnings estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 7%. This is depicted in the figure below.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
HCA Healthcare, Inc. price-eps-surprise | HCA Healthcare, Inc. Quote
Q3 Earnings Whispers for HCA Healthcare
However, our proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
HCA has an Earnings ESP of 0.00% and a Zacks Rank #3. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping HCA Healthcare’s Q3 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s third-quarter equivalent admissions indicates 2% year-over-year growth, while our model estimate suggests a 3.1% increase. The consensus mark for revenue per equivalent admission signals a 3.4% rise from a year ago.
The consensus estimate for occupancy is pegged at 73.4% up from 71.9% a year ago. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for equivalent patient days indicates 0.9% year-over-year growth. While these factors are likely to have positioned HCA Healthcare for growth from the year-ago quarter, rising expenses and lower average length of stay make an earnings beat uncertain.
Our model estimate for third-quarter total operating expenses indicates a 5.9% increase from a year ago, due to higher salaries & benefits, supply costs and other operating expenses. We expect supply costs to jump 9.2% in the to-be-reported quarter.
Both the consensus estimate and our model estimate for outpatient surgery cases suggest a 1.8% fall from a year ago. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for average length of stay indicates a 1.2% decline from the year-ago period.
Stocks That Warrant a Look
While an earnings beat looks uncertain for HCA Healthcare, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Select Medical Holdings Corporation (SEM - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +8.58% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Select Medical’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of 18 cents per share has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past month. The consensus mark for Select Medical’s revenues is pegged at $1.32 billion.
Erasca, Inc. (ERAS - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +5.66% and a Zacks Rank of 2.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Erasca’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter remained stable over the past week. Erasca’s earnings beat estimates in three of the past four quarters and met once, with an average surprise of 13%.
Envista Holdings Corporation (NVST - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.62% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Envista’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter indicates 125% year-over-year growth. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, with an average surprise of 16.5%.