HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the largest hospital operators in the U.S., released second-quarter 2026 revenues of $20.23 billion, representing an 8.7% year-over-year increase, beating the consensus estimate of $19.40 billion.
The company reported adjusted earnings of $7.59, up from $6.84 a year ago, surpassing the Wall Street estimates of $7.02.
Adjusted EBITDA reached $4.027 billion, compared to $3.849 billion a year ago.
Admissions Growth And Medicaid Payments Support Results
The company also experienced positive factors including increased benefit from Medicaid Supplemental Payment Programs, growth in admissions, equivalent admissions and ER visits, and improved expense results.
Same facility admissions increased 2.5% and same facility equivalent admissions increased 2.7%. Same facility emergency room visits increased 3.6%.
Same facility inpatient surgeries declined 2.3%, and outpatient surgeries declined 3.4% in the quarter. Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 6.4%.
Surgical Volume And Payer Mix Weigh On Performance
As announced earlier, during the second quarter, the company experienced a payer mix shift driven by an increase in uninsured volume, primarily due to patients who lost coverage on the health insurance exchanges.
The company estimates this payer mix shift had an unfavorable impact on income before income taxes of approximately $400 million during the second quarter.
The amount includes an increase of approximately $75 million related to the company’s previous estimate of the first quarter health insurance exchange impact.
In addition, to a lesser degree, HCA Healthcare experienced a service mix shift primarily related to a decline in surgical volume.
HCA Reaffirms Full-Year 2026 Outlook
HCA Healthcare reaffirmed fiscal 2026 earnings guidance of $28.70-$30.50 per share compared to the consensus of $29.70.
The company expects 2026 sales of $77 billion-$79.50 billion versus the consensus of $78.457 billion.
HCA Stock Price Activity: HCA Healthcare shares were up 3.62% at $390.12 at the time of publication on Friday, according to Benzinga Pro data.
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