HCA Misses Analysts’ Reduced Estimates as Admissions Weaken

HCA Holdings Inc., the largest for-profit U.S. hospital chain, reported profit that missed analyst estimates as growth in patient visits continued to moderate.

First-quarter earnings excluding one-time items were 79 cents a share, the Nashville, Tennessee-based company said today in a statement. The results were 3 cents less than the average of 24 analysts’ estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Same facility equivalent admissions, the company’s main measure of growth, fell 0.7 percent before adjustments.