HCA Posts Higher 4Q Profit, Revenue

By Connor Hart

HCA Healthcare logged higher profit and revenue during the fourth quarter, boosted by an increase in same-facility admissions.

The Nashville, Tenn., hospital owner and operator on Tuesday posted a profit of $1.89 billion, or $8.14 a share, compared with $1.44 billion, or $5.63 a share, in the same quarter last year.

Stripping out one-time costs, such as gains and losses stemming from the sale of facilities, earnings were $8.01 a share. Analysts surveyed by FactSet expected adjusted earnings of $7.46 a share.

Revenue climbed 6.7% to $19.51 billion, just below the $19.68 billion that Wall Street modeled.

Same facility admissions rose 2.4% during the recent quarter, while same facility emergency room visits ticked up 0.5% compared with a year ago. Same-facility inpatient surgeries were flat, while same-facility outpatient surgeries ebbed 0.5%, the company said.

Chief Executive Sam Hazen said the company benefited from its investments in network expansion and workforce development, as well as its advancement of clinical capabilities.

Looking forward, HCA guided for earnings of $29.10 to $31.50 a share on revenue of $76.5 billion to $80 billion in 2026. Analysts were looking for earnings of $29.49 on revenue of $79.04 billion.

Capital expenditures for the coming year, excluding acquisitions, are projected to be between $5 billion and $5.5 billion.

Also on Tuesday, HCA's board authorized an additional buyback of up to $10 billion, as well as raised its quarterly dividend by 6 cents, to 78 cents a share.

Write to Connor Hart at connor.hart@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

January 27, 2026 07:39 ET (12:39 GMT)