(Reuters) -Hospital operator HCA Healthcare said on Friday its first-quarter profit rose nearly 9%, as more people underwent elective procedures and sought medical care due to a rise in flu cases.
The company reiterated its annual profit forecast and said it includes the impact of the two major hurricanes that hit its facilities last year, and policy developments, including the Trump admnistration’s tariffs on imports.
Hospitals have been benefiting from elevated demand for non-urgent procedures, particularly from older Americans, since the second half of 2023.
Health insurance bellwether UnitedHealth Group last week flagged a surge in demand for medical care and lowered its annual outlook, a sign that the trend could continue into this year.
HCA earned a profit of $6.45 per share in the first quarter, compared with $5.93 a year earlier. It expects 2025 profit in the range of $24.05 to $25.85 per share.
(Reporting by Siddhi Mahatole and Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli)
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