One bull still stands for Community Health Systems (NYSE: CYH), even after management’s
preview of second-quarter earnings on Wednesday shocked and disappointed most investors.
The news also came just a day after HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE: HCA) reported a miss for Q2 and EPS guidance for the year below consensus, since which
its shares are down over 5.5 percent.
Oppenheimer’s Michael Wiederhorn reiterated an Outperform
rating on the stock, which dropped 15.5 percent on Thursday’s open to $7.15.
“The hospital fundamentals clearly remain challenging ... and we expect more information when they report results on August
1st,” said Wiederhorn.
Community Health expects Q2 adjusted EPS to come in at negative $0.25 and sales of $4.144 billion–4.05 billion, compared to the
Street’s positive $0.06 and $4.08 billion estimates.
Revenues at the low end of guidance would be a 10-percent reduction year over year.
Same-store adjusted admissions are now expected to be negative 2.5 percent for the quarter, and between negative 2–1 percent for
the year. Previously, the company had guided for 0–1.5 percent.
Community Health attributed the downward revisions to lower-than-expected volumes.
Despite the rating, the most bullish statement from Wiederhorn seemed to be that he will follow up with more color and estimate
revisions after the final report.
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