HCA Reports Third Quarter 2019 Results

NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) today announced financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2019.

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Key third quarter metrics (all percentage changes compare 3Q 2019 to 3Q 2018 unless otherwise noted):

• Revenues totaled $12.694 billion
• Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. totaled $612 million, or $1.76 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA totaled $2.285 billion
• Cash flows from operating activities totaled $2.126 billion
• Same facility equivalent admissions and same facility admissions increased 4.2 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively

Revenues in the third quarter of 2019 increased to $12.694 billion, compared to $11.451 billion in the third quarter of 2018. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. totaled $612 million, or $1.76 per diluted share, compared to $759 million, or $2.15 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2018. Results for the third quarter of 2019 include losses on retirement of debt of $211 million, or $0.47 per diluted share. Third quarter of 2018 results included gains on sales of facilities of $6 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share.

For the third quarter of 2019, Adjusted EBITDA totaled $2.285 billion, compared to $2.096 billion in the third quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A table providing supplemental information on Adjusted EBITDA and reconciling net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. to Adjusted EBITDA is included in this release.

Same facility admissions and equivalent admissions increased 3.2 percent and 4.2 percent, respectively, in the third quarter of 2019 compared to the prior year period. Same facility emergency room visits increased 4.1 percent in the third quarter of 2019, compared to the prior year period. Same facility inpatient surgeries increased 2.2 percent, and same facility outpatient surgeries increased 2.6 percent in the third quarter of 2019, compared to the same period of 2018. Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 2.0 percent in the third quarter of 2019, compared to the third quarter of 2018.

Salaries and benefits, supplies and other operating expenses totaled $10.413 billion, or 82.0 percent of revenues, in the third quarter of 2019, compared to $9.364 billion, or 81.8 percent of revenues, in the third quarter of 2018.

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2019

Revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 totaled $37.813 billion, compared to $34.403 billion in the same period of 2018. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. was $2.434 billion, or $6.98 per diluted share, compared to $2.723 billion, or $7.65 per diluted share, for the first nine months of 2018. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 include gains on sales of facilities of $17 million, or $0.04 per diluted share and losses on retirement of debt of $211 million, or $0.47 per diluted share. Results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 included gains on sales of facilities of $420 million, or $0.89 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $9 million, or $0.02 per diluted share.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flows from Operations

As of September 30, 2019, HCA Healthcare, Inc.’s balance sheet reflected cash and cash equivalents of $559 million, total debt of $34.245 billion, and total assets of $43.912 billion. During the third quarter of 2019, capital expenditures totaled $1.139 billion, excluding acquisitions. Cash flows provided by operating activities in the third quarter totaled $2.126 billion, compared to $1.721 billion in the third quarter of 2018.

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company redeemed certain senior secured notes and recognized pretax losses on retirement of debt totaling $211 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for these redemptions.

The Company repurchased 1.846 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $239 million during the third quarter of 2019. For the nine months ended September 30, 2019, the Company repurchased 5.880 million shares at a cost of $759 million. The Company had $1.513 billion remaining under its existing repurchase authorization as of the end of September 30, 2019.

Dividend

HCA today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.40 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend will be paid on December 27, 2019 to stockholders of record at the close of business on December 2, 2019.

The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and contractual restrictions. Future dividends are expected to be funded by cash balances and future cash flows from operations.

2019 Revised Guidance

The 2019 revised guidance ranges for the year are as follows:

The Company’s 2019 guidance contains a number of assumptions, including:

• 2019 guidance includes an estimated financial impact of the Company’s Mission Health acquisition, which closed February 1, 2019.
• 2019 guidance excludes the impact of items such as, but not limited to, gains or losses on sales of facilities, losses on retirement of debt, legal claim costs and impairments of long-lived assets.

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A table reconciling forecasted net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA is included in this release.

The Company’s guidance is based on current plans and expectations and is subject to a number of known and unknown uncertainties and risks, including those set forth below in the Company’s “Forward-Looking Statements.”

Earnings Conference Call

HCA will host a conference call for investors at 9:00 a.m. Central Daylight Time today. All interested investors are invited to access a live audio broadcast of the call via webcast. The broadcast also will be available on a replay basis beginning this afternoon. The webcast can be accessed at: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1234730&tp_key=ab2d64f271 or through the Company’s Investor Relations web page at www.hcahealthcare.com.

About the Company

As of September 30, 2019, HCA operated 184 hospitals and approximately 2,000 sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 21 states and the United Kingdom.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2019, as well as other statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “initiative” or “continue.” These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond our control, which could significantly affect current plans and expectations and our future financial position and results of operations. These factors include, but are not limited to, (1) the impact of our substantial indebtedness and the ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms, (2) the impact of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Health Reform Law”), including the effects of court challenges to, any repeal of, or changes to, the Health Reform Law or additional changes to its implementation, the possible enactment of additional federal or state health care reforms and possible changes to other federal, state or local laws or regulations affecting the health care industry, (3) the effects related to the continued implementation of the sequestration spending reductions required under the Budget Control Act of 2011, and related legislation extending these reductions, and the potential for future deficit reduction legislation that may alter these spending reductions, which include cuts to Medicare payments, or create additional spending reductions, (4) increases in the amount and risk of collectability of uninsured accounts and deductibles and copayment amounts for insured accounts, (5) the ability to achieve operating and financial targets, and attain expected levels of patient volumes and control the costs of providing services, (6) possible changes in Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs, including Medicaid supplemental payment programs or Medicaid waiver programs, that may impact reimbursements to health care providers and insurers and the size of the uninsured or underinsured population, (7) the highly competitive nature of the health care business, (8) changes in service mix, revenue mix and surgical volumes, including potential declines in the population covered under third-party payer agreements, the ability to enter into and renew third-party payer provider agreements on acceptable terms and the impact of consumer-driven health plans and physician utilization trends and practices, (9) the efforts of health insurers, health care providers, large employer groups and others to contain health care costs, (10) the outcome of our continuing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures, (11) increases in wages and the ability to attract and retain qualified management and personnel, including affiliated physicians, nurses and medical and technical support personnel, (12) the availability and terms of capital to fund the expansion of our business and improvements to our existing facilities, (13) changes in accounting practices, (14) changes in general economic conditions nationally and regionally in our markets, (15) the emergence of and effects related to infectious diseases, (16) future divestitures which may result in charges and possible impairments of long-lived assets, (17) changes in business strategy or development plans, (18) delays in receiving payments for services provided, (19) the outcome of pending and any future tax audits, disputes and litigation associated with our tax positions, (20) potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, litigation and other claims that may be made against us, (21) the impact of potential cybersecurity incidents or security breaches, (22) our ongoing ability to demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record technology, (23) the impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, or similar events beyond our control, (24) the effects of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, including potential legislation or interpretive guidance that may be issued by federal and state taxing authorities or other standard-setting bodies, and (25) other risk factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond our ability to control or predict. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management’s views only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All references to “Company” and “HCA” as used throughout this release refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20191029005221/en/

INVESTOR CONTACT:

Mark Kimbrough
615-344-2688

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ed Fishbough
615-344-2810

Source: HCA Healthcare, Inc.