HCA Holdings Q4 Profit Rises; Guides 2014 - Quick Facts

(RTTNews) - Health care service provider HCA Holdings Inc. (HCA) announced higher fourth-quarter 2013 net income attributable to the company of $424 million, or $0.92 per share, versus last year's $314 million, or $0.68 per share. On average, 24 analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expected earnings per share of $0.82 for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude one-time items.

Results for the 2012 fourth quarter include pretax legal claim costs of $175 million, or $0.24 per share, and pretax gains on sales of facilities of $11 million, or $0.01 per share, HCA added.

Nashville, Tennessee-based firm's quarterly revenues totaled $8.84 billion, a 4.8 percent growth from the prior year's $8.43 billion, and revenues before provision for doubtful accounts advanced year-over-year to $9.96 billion, from $9.54 billion. Nineteen analysts estimated revenues of $8.80 billion for the quarter. Fourth-quarter revenue growth was driven mainly by higher revenue per equivalent admission as case mix, or acuity, increased 3.0 percent year-on-year, the company said.

In addition, HCA issued its 2014 guidance, expecting adjusted earnings per share of $3.45 - $3.75 and revenues ranging between $35.5 billion and $36.5 billion. Analysts project annual earnings per share of $3.80, on revenus of $36.12 billion.