Key Takeaways

• HCA Healthcare reported worse-than-expected results and warned about future performance because of the impact of recent hurricanes.

• The insurer said Hurricane Helene's effect on its North Carolina operations reduced third-quarter profit and sales.

• HCA added that Hurricanes Helene and Milton will lower current-quarter results.

HCA Healthcare (HCA) reported that recent hurricanes had and will have negative impacts on results, and shares slumped about 10% Friday afternoon.

The insurer posted third-quarter earnings per share (EPS) of $4.88, with revenue rising 8% to $17.49 billion. Both missed consensus forecasts of analysts polled by Visible Alpha.

HCA said that in the period it "incurred additional expenses and experienced loss of revenues estimated at $50 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, associated with Hurricane Helene's impact on certain facilities located in Florida, Georgia and North Carolina."

HCA Sees $200M-$300M Q4 Hit From Helene, Milton

In addition, the company explained that in the current quarter, it sees "ongoing additional expenses and loss of revenues" of about $200 million to $300 million—or $0.60 to $0.90 per share—because of Helene's effect on its North Carolina facilities, as well as from Milton's impact on certain operations in Florida this month.

HCA added that while the consequences of Helene will still be felt at its North Carolina locations in 2025, it "believes these ongoing effects will be manageable and currently expects 2025 diluted earnings per share and Adjusted EBITDA growth to be near, or slightly above, the upper end of its long-term growth ranges."

Even with today's declines, HCA Healthcare shares have added a third of their value this year.

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