Community Health Systems Inc. CYH reported third-quarter 2015 adjusted earnings of 56 cents per share, which plunged 44.6% on a year-over-year basis but was on par with the Zacks Consensus Estimate.
Quarter Details
Net operating revenues increased 1.4% to $4.85 billion, which, however, fell shy of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $4.91 billion.
Total admissions decreased 1.9% while adjusted admissions inched up 0.2%. Outpatient revenues accounted for 58.3% of total patient revenues compared with 56.7% in the year-ago quarter.
On a same-store basis, net operating revenues increased 1.2% year over year to $4.82 billion, primarily because of a 0.1% increase in adjusted admissions. However, total admissions decreased 2.1% on a year-over-year basis.
Adjusted EBITDA fell 11.9% year over year to $661 million.
Meanwhile, total operating costs and expenses inched up 1.9% year over year to almost $4.50 billion. Salaries & benefits, supplies, rent and depreciation & amortization increased 2.6%, 4.4%, 4.5% and 3.2%, respectively. The company achieved $50 million of cost synergies from the HMA acquisition in the reported quarter.
Adjusted operating profit declined 5.1% from the year-ago quarter to $351 million owing to a modest growth in revenues.
Guidance
For full-year 2015, Community Health forecasts adjusted earnings in the range of $3.40–$3.75. Net operating revenues are projected in the range of $19.6–$19.8 billion. Same-store hospital annual adjusted admissions growth is projected in the band of flat to 1.5%.
Adjusted EBITDA is forecasted in the $2.9 billion to $3.0 billion range. Management forecasts an additional $115 million to $155 million of benefit from the Healthcare Reform in 2015. Moreover, additional acquisition synergies from the HMA takeover are projected at around $150 million for 2015.
Community Health expects Health Information Technology (HITECH) electronic health records incentive reimbursement of approximately $155 million to $165 million for full-year 2015.
Management anticipates capital expenditure in the band of $950 million–$1.10 billion, while net cash provided by operating activities is projected in the $1.50–$1.65 billion band.
Our Take
Community Health is growing largely on the back of acquisitions along with reasonable organic growth. We believe that the company’s strategy to vend small hospital assets will help it to focus on large hospitals in developing non-urban areas. On the other hand, strategic acquisitions will improve the company’s penetration, which in turn will enhance its competitive position.
Medicaid expansion is also expected to drive top-line growth as it will reduce bad debts and charity spending. Moreover, improving synergies from the HMA acquisition will drive profits considerably.
However, high debt levels remain a major concern.
Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider
Currently, Community Health has a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell).
Better-ranked stocks in the same space include Adeptus Health ADPT, MEDNAX Inc MD and VCA Inc. WOOF. Adeptus Health sports a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), while MEDNAX and VCA carry a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
Be the first to comment