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 Higher Costs & Lower Occupancy Impact HCA's Q1 Earnings?
Read MoreHide Full Article
Key Takeaways
HCA Healthcare reports Q1 results on April 24, with EPS expected up 11.5% on 4.3% revenue growth.
HCA's Q1 operating expenses are projected to rise 4.2%, driven by higher salaries, supply and other costs.
HCA occupancy is expected to drop to 73.2%, with patient days and outpatient surgeries also slipping.
Hospital operator HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $7.19 per shareon revenues of $19.1 billion.
The first-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed two upward revisions against no movement in the opposite direction over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates year-over-year growth of 11.5%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies a year-over-year increase of 4.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s revenues is pegged at $78.45 billion, implying a rise of 3.8% year over year. The consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $30.18, implying an increase of 7% year over year.
HCA Healthcare’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 13.6%. 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 Q1 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for HCA Healthcare’s first-quarter equivalent admissions indicate 2.2% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for revenue per equivalent admission signals a 2% rise from a year ago, while we expect 1.9% growth.
While these factors are likely to have positioned HCA Healthcare for growth from the year-ago quarter, rising expenses, lower occupancy and average length of stay make an earnings beat uncertain.
Our model estimate for first-quarter total operating expenses indicates a 4.2% increase from a year ago, due to higher salaries & benefits, supply costs and other operating expenses. We expect supply costs to jump 4.5% in the to-be-reported quarter.
The consensus estimate for occupancy is pegged at 73.2%, down from 76.9% a year ago. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for average length of stay indicates a 3.5% decline from the year-ago period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for equivalent patient days indicates a 0.5% year-over-year slip. Moreover, both the consensus estimate and our model estimate for outpatient surgery cases imply a 0.2% fall from a year ago.
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 Ensign’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of $1.79 indicates 17.8% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 60 days. The consensus mark for Ensign’s revenues is pegged at $1.39 billion, an 18.5% increase from a year ago.
Janux Therapeutics, Inc. (JANX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +26.03% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Janux Therapeutics’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter has improved by 3 cents over the past month. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 13.4%. The consensus estimate for JANX’s revenues is pegged at $15 million.
Novavax, Inc. (NVAX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Novavax’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter improved by 7 cents over the past 60 days. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 364.4%. Novavax’s revenues for the to be reported quarter are pegged at $60.39 million.
Zacks' 7 Best Strong Buy Stocks (New Research Report)
Valued at $99, click below to receive our just-released report
predicting the 7 stocks that will soar highest in the coming month.
View the Zacks #1 Rank List
Image: Bigstock
Will Higher Costs & Lower Occupancy Impact HCA's Q1 Earnings?
Key Takeaways
Hospital operator HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is set to report first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, 2026, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter’s earnings is currently pegged at $7.19 per shareon revenues of $19.1 billion.
The first-quarter earnings estimate has witnessed two upward revisions against no movement in the opposite direction over the past 60 days. The bottom-line projection indicates year-over-year growth of 11.5%. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for quarterly revenues implies a year-over-year increase of 4.3%.
For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s revenues is pegged at $78.45 billion, implying a rise of 3.8% year over year. The consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $30.18, implying an increase of 7% year over year.
HCA Healthcare’s earnings beat estimates in each of the last four quarters, with the average surprise being 13.6%. This is depicted in the figure below.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
HCA Healthcare, Inc. price-eps-surprise | HCA Healthcare, Inc. Quote
Q1 Earnings Whispers for HCA
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 Q1 Results?
The Zacks Consensus Estimate and our model estimate for HCA Healthcare’s first-quarter equivalent admissions indicate 2.2% year-over-year growth. The consensus mark for revenue per equivalent admission signals a 2% rise from a year ago, while we expect 1.9% growth.
While these factors are likely to have positioned HCA Healthcare for growth from the year-ago quarter, rising expenses, lower occupancy and average length of stay make an earnings beat uncertain.
Our model estimate for first-quarter total operating expenses indicates a 4.2% increase from a year ago, due to higher salaries & benefits, supply costs and other operating expenses. We expect supply costs to jump 4.5% in the to-be-reported quarter.
The consensus estimate for occupancy is pegged at 73.2%, down from 76.9% a year ago. Also, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for average length of stay indicates a 3.5% decline from the year-ago period.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for equivalent patient days indicates a 0.5% year-over-year slip. Moreover, both the consensus estimate and our model estimate for outpatient surgery cases imply a 0.2% fall from a year ago.
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 Ensign Group, Inc. (ENSG - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +1.12% and a Zacks Rank #2. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ensign’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter of $1.79 indicates 17.8% year-over-year growth. It has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 60 days. The consensus mark for Ensign’s revenues is pegged at $1.39 billion, an 18.5% increase from a year ago.
Janux Therapeutics, Inc. (JANX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +26.03% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Janux Therapeutics’ bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter has improved by 3 cents over the past month. The company’s earnings beat estimates in three of the trailing four quarters and missed once, with an average surprise of 13.4%. The consensus estimate for JANX’s revenues is pegged at $15 million.
Novavax, Inc. (NVAX - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +20.00% and a Zacks Rank of 3.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Novavax’s bottom line for the to-be-reported quarter improved by 7 cents over the past 60 days. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 364.4%. Novavax’s revenues for the to be reported quarter are pegged at $60.39 million.