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Universal Health (UHS) Beats On Q1 Earnings, Misses Revenues

Published 04/25/2017, 10:23 PM
Updated 07/09/2023, 06:31 AM

Universal Health Services Inc. (NYSE:UHS) reported first-quarter 2017 adjusted earnings of $2.10 per share that surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.9%. Earnings also improved 6% over the prior-year quarter on the back of higher revenues.

Net revenue increased 6.7% year over year to $2.61 billion but missed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 1.5%.

Segment Update

Acute Care Hospitals: Adjusted admissions and adjusted patient days increased 5.1% and 1.7%, respectively, over the prior-year quarter. Net revenue from acute care services climbed 4.8% in the first quarter.

On a same facility basis, operating margin deteriorated by 140 basis points over the last-year quarter to 19.7%.

The provision for doubtful accounts at acute care hospitals totaled nearly $181 million, up 28.6% year over year.

Universal Health is well known for providing care to deprived patients at low costs. This quarter too, the company provided ‘charity care and uninsured discounts’ of approximately $416 million, up 20.6% year over year.

Behavioral hospitals: On a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 2.4% while adjusted patient days increased 0.2%, both on a year-over-year basis. On a same facility basis, net revenue increased 1.4% year over year during the first quarter.

The operating margins of 25.6% deteriorated 190 basis points over the last-year quarter.

Provision for doubtful accounts decreased 18% year over year to $162.8 million. Operating charges of $2.2 billion were up 8.4% year over year owing to an increase in salaries, wages and benefits, other operating expenses, supply expenses, depreciation and amortization.

Financial Update

As of Mar 31, 2017, the company had cash and cash equivalents of nearly $63 million, up 85% from year-end 2016.

Total assets amounted $10.4 billion as of Mar 31, 2017, up 1.2% from year-end 2016.

The company managed to lower its debt burden, as evidenced by long-term debt of $3.8 billion as of Mar 31, 2017 that declined 6.8% from year-end 2016.

Buyback Program

In Feb 2016, the board of directors authorized a $400 million increase to Universal Health’s stock repurchase program, which increased the aggregate authorization to $800 million from the previous authorization of $400 million during third-quarter 2014.

Concurrently, during the first quarter, the company repurchased 103,948 shares at an aggregate cost of $11.2 million. Since the inception of the program on Mar 31, 2017, Universal Health bought back approximately 4.49 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $525.3 million.

Zacks Rank & Stocks to Consider

Universal Health presently carries Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

Among the other firms in the medical sector that have reported their first-quarter earnings so far, the bottom line at Centene Corp. (NYSE:CNC) , Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX) and UnitedHealth Group Inc. (NYSE:UNH) beat their respective Zacks Consensus Estimate.

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UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (UNH): Free Stock Analysis Report

Centene Corporation (CNC): Free Stock Analysis Report

Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS): Free Stock Analysis Report

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (DGX): Free Stock Analysis Report

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