Brentwood, Tenn.-based Ardent Health recorded operating income of $81 million (5% operating margin) during the third quarter, up from an operating loss of $2.2 million (-0.1% margin) during the same quarter last year, according to its Nov. 4 financial report.
Five things to know:
1. Total revenue grew 3.1% year over year for the three months ended Sept. 30, to $1.6 billion. Ardent said the growth was supported by a 2.9% increase in adjusted admissions. Net patient service revenue per adjusted admission rose 0.7%, to $17,370.
2. Total operating expenses decreased 2.2% year over year in the third quarter to $1.5 billion. Salaries and benefits totaled $647.9 million, a 4.3% decrease. Professional fees totaled $327.8 million, a 7.4% increase. Supply expenses totaled $283.1 million, up 2.6%.
3. Ardent updated its full-year 2026 guidance. The system now projects adjusted EBITDA between $500 million and $535 million, up from a prior range of $485 million to $535 million, and net income attributable to Ardent between $132 million and $167 million, up from $110 million to $163 million. Ardent reaffirmed its total revenue guidance of $6.4 billion to $6.7 billion.
4. During the quarter, Ardent signed a definitive agreement to transition full ownership of its St. Francis Campus in Topeka, Kan., to joint venture partner The University of Kansas Health System. Ardent President and CEO Dave Caspers said he expects the transaction to “enhance margins while allowing us to redeploy capital toward growth in core markets where we can build scale and integrated systems of care.”
5. Ardent reported net income of $44.5 million in the third quarter of 2026, compared to a net loss of $23.5 million during the same period last year.
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