HCA Healthcare: Strong Demand Indicators Could Be A Major Driving Force!

HCA Healthcare Inc. had a robust fourth quarter in 2023, which exceeded expectations across most business dimensions. Demand for services remained high across the company’s diverse portfolio. Improved cost trends also drove strong financial performance during the period. Diluted earnings per share grew by 27% compared to the prior year, and same-facility volumes demonstrated strong growth. While the ER visits and inpatient and outpatient surgery volumes each increased by around 1%, admissions increased by 3% year over year, and equivalent admissions increased by 4%.