The hospital operator expects its income before tax to be approximately $1.1 billion, up from $680 million in the comparable period of last year. Net income per diluted share is expected to be about $1.35 per share, which was well above the average analyst estimate of $1.14, according to Reuters. HCA’s net income per diluted share was $0.76 for the first quarter of 2014.
HCA reported that same facility admissions increased 5.1 percent and same facility emergency room visits increased 11.5 percent in the first quarter compared to the same period of last year.
“We are very pleased with the results for the first quarter,” said R. Milton Johnson, chairman and CEO of HCA. “The majority of the first quarter performance was driven by continued favorable volume and payer trends in our core operations.”
Based on its strong first-quarter numbers, HCA raised its full-year profit forecast to the range of $4.90 to $5.30 per share from the range of $4.55 to $4.95 per share.
HCA expects to report its first quarter results on or about May 5.
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