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HCA Reports 2005 First Quarter Results of $0.95 per Diluted Share
Increases 2005 Earnings Guidance Range to $3.05 to $3.20 per Diluted Share

NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 21, 2005 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- HCA (NYSE: HCA) today announced results for its first quarter ended March 31, 2005. Net income for the first quarter of 2005 was $414 million, or $0.95 per diluted share, compared to $345 million, or $0.69 per diluted share, in the previous year's first quarter.

Also, HCA today announced revised earnings guidance for the full year 2005 within a range of $3.05 to $3.20 per diluted share. Previous guidance for 2005 was a range of $2.75 to $2.90 per diluted share.

"I am extremely pleased with the results of our first quarter. Solid inpatient and outpatient volume growth, favorable patient mix, effective expense management and improving bad debt trends, or more simply, a slowing rate of increase associated with the uncollectability of uninsured receivables, all contributed to the substantial improvement in our financial performance," stated Jack O. Bovender, Jr., HCA's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

For the first quarter of 2005, revenues increased 4.1 percent to $6.2 billion from $5.9 billion in the first quarter of 2004. First quarter 2005 results benefited from same facility admission growth of 1.0 percent, same facility equivalent admission growth of 2.1 percent and an increase in same facility surgical procedures in the quarter of 1.1 percent over the prior year's first quarter.

Outpatient surgical volumes improved in the first quarter as same facility outpatient surgeries increased 1.5 percent. This statistic includes ambulatory surgery center volumes, which increased 3.2 percent, and hospital based outpatient surgeries, which increased 0.6 percent in the quarter.

Same facility emergency room visits increased 7.9 percent in the first quarter of 2005, compared to the same period of 2004, partly due to higher flu or pulmonary related volumes.

Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 2.5 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the prior year first quarter. HCA's revised uninsured discount policy, which became effective January 1, 2005, resulted in $109 million in discounts, $108 million on a same facility basis, being provided to the uninsured during the first quarter of 2005. Adjusting for the uninsured discounts, same facility revenue per equivalent admission growth was 4.3 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004. Revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts, certain operating expense categories as a percentage of revenues and revenue per equivalent admission have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the discounts to the uninsured in the attached table entitled "Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures" and the related footnotes describe how the Company uses the measures and why the Company believes these measures are useful.

The provision for doubtful accounts for the first quarter of 2005 was $574 million, or 9.3 percent of revenues, compared to $694 million, or 11.7 percent of revenues, in the first quarter of 2004. Adjusting for the effect of the uninsured discounts, the provision for doubtful accounts for the first quarter of 2005 was $683 million, or 10.9 percent of revenues. Charity care (excluding the discounts to the uninsured) was $284 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $218 million in the first quarter of 2004. Both charity care and the new uninsured discounts lower revenues and the provision for doubtful accounts by generally corresponding amounts.

During the first quarter of 2005, the Company experienced a moderation in the growth in its uninsured patient admissions and emergency room visits. Same facility uninsured admissions, compared to the first quarter of 2004, increased 3.3 percent. Same facility uninsured emergency room visits increased 15.1 percent in the first quarter of 2005 compared to the first quarter of 2004.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet

HCA's cash flow from operations increased by 6.6 percent to $823 million in the first quarter of 2005 compared to $772 million in the first quarter of 2004.

As of March 31, 2005, the Company's balance sheet reflected total debt of $9.9 billion, stockholders' equity (including common and minority equity) of $6.1 billion and total assets of $21.7 billion. HCA's ratio of debt to debt plus common and minority equity was 61.7 percent at March 31, 2005, compared to 66.9 percent at December 31, 2004.

Outpatient Acquisitions

HCA has completed the following outpatient facility acquisitions during 2005:

Center Name                 Location       No. of Centers
     Cancer Hope Cancer Centers       Tallahassee, FL        3
     First Health                     Jacksonville, FL       1
     Total I                          Tampa, FL              5
     MDI-Medical Diagnostic Imaging   South Florida          7 (60% ownership)

Cancer Hope Cancer Centers offer outpatient radiation therapy services and the other 13 centers offer various diagnostic services such as MRI, CT, ultrasound, mammography and bone density services. Also, during the first quarter of 2005, the Company opened Denton Ambulatory Surgery Center, a multi- specialty surgery center in Denton, TX.

Status of Asset Sales

On March 28, 2005, the Company announced its intention to divest ten hospitals located primarily in rural and small urban markets. Significant interest in purchasing these facilities has been received by the Company's financial advisor, Merrill Lynch. The Company expects the disposition of the ten hospitals to be substantially completed by the fourth quarter of 2005. Since these hospitals are not material to the Company's financial position or results of operations, they will continue to be included in the Company's consolidated financial results until divested.

Revised 2005 Earnings Guidance

Based upon the better than expected first quarter results, the Company has revised its full year 2005 earnings guidance to a range of $3.05 to $3.20 per diluted share. The Company's previous earnings guidance for 2005 was a range of $2.75 to $2.90 per diluted share.

Facilities at Quarter End

At March 31, 2005, the Company operated 190 hospitals and 92 freestanding surgery centers (including seven hospitals and eight freestanding surgery centers operated through equity method joint ventures) located in 23 states, London, England and Geneva, Switzerland compared to 191 hospitals and 83 freestanding surgery centers (including seven hospitals and four freestanding surgery centers operated through equity method joint ventures) at March 31, 2004.

Annual Shareholders' Meeting

The Company's annual shareholders' meeting will be held at the Company's headquarters in Nashville, Tennessee on May 26, 2005 at 1:30 p.m. local time for shareholders of record as of March 28, 2005.

Annual Report to Shareholders

HCA's 2004 Annual Report to shareholders, which is being sent to shareholders in connection with the Company's annual meeting, focuses on the initiatives of the Company in the areas of quality of care and patient safety. The report describes HCA's Perinatal Safety Program, which seeks to improve clinical care provided to mothers and their babies; a system for Electronic Medication Administration and Barcoding that uses wireless barcoding technology to ensure that the right dosage of the right medication is delivered to each patient; and Electronic Physician Order Management to enable physicians to submit computerized medical orders for patients. The Report also describes HCA's Quality Review System, which helps maintain quality standards by measuring and reporting clinical performance of HCA's hospitals.

Earnings Conference Call

HCA will host a conference call for investors to discuss first quarter results at 8:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time today. All interested investors are invited to access a live audio broadcast of the call via webcast. The broadcast also will be available on a replay basis beginning this afternoon and through the next year. The webcast can be accessed via the following link: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?p=irol- eventDetails&c=63489&eventID=1042131 or on the Investor Relations page at www.hcahealthcare.com .

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Those forward-looking statements include all statements regarding our estimated results of operations in future periods and all statements other than those made solely with respect to historical fact. Numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to (i) the increased leverage resulting from the financing of our modified "Dutch" tender offer completed in 2004, (ii) increases in the amount and risk of collectability of uninsured accounts and deductibles and co-pay amounts for insured accounts, (iii) the ability to achieve operating and financial targets, achieve expected levels of patient volumes and control the costs of providing services, (iv) the highly competitive nature of the health care business, (v) the efforts of insurers, health care providers and others to contain health care costs, (vi) possible changes in the Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs that may impact reimbursements to health care providers and insurers, (vii) the ability to attract and retain qualified management and other personnel, including affiliated physicians, nurses and medical support personnel, (viii) potential liabilities and other claims that may be asserted against the Company, (ix) fluctuations in the market value of the Company's common stock, (x) the impact of the Company's charity care and uninsured discounting policy changes, (xi) changes in accounting practices, (xii) changes in general economic conditions, (xiii) future divestitures which may result in charges, (xiv) changes in revenue mix and the ability to enter into and renew managed care provider arrangements on acceptable terms, (xv) the availability and terms of capital to fund the expansion of the Company's business, (xvi) changes in business strategy or development plans, (xvii) delays in receiving payments for services provided, (xviii) the possible enactment of Federal or state health care reform, (xix) the outcome of pending and any future tax audits, appeals and litigation associated with the Company's tax positions, (xx) the outcome of the Company's continuing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures and the Company's corporate integrity agreement with the government, (xxi) changes in Federal, state or local regulations affecting the health care industry, (xxii) the ability to successfully effect the planned divesture(s) of ten hospitals, (xxiii) the ability to develop and implement the payroll and human resources information systems within the expected time and cost projections and, upon implementation, to realize the expected benefits and efficiencies, (xxiv) maintaining the increased quarterly cash dividend rate for the entire fiscal year, and (xxv) other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. Many of the factors that will determine the Company's future results are beyond the ability of the Company to control or predict. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements contained herein, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which reflect management's views only as of the date hereof. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

All references to "Company" and "HCA" as used throughout this document refer to HCA Inc. and its affiliates.

HCA Inc.
                        Consolidated Income Statements
                                First Quarter
               (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

                                                2005              2004
                                           Amount  Ratio     Amount  Ratio

    Revenues                               $6,182  100.0 %   $5,937  100.0 %

    Salaries and benefits                   2,443   39.5      2,333   39.3
    Supplies                                1,051   17.0        980   16.5
    Other operating expenses                  972   15.7        951   16.1
    Provision for doubtful accounts           574    9.3        694   11.7
    Gains on investments                       (9)  (0.1)       (10)  (0.2)
    Equity in earnings of affiliates          (53)  (0.9)       (46)  (0.8)
    Depreciation and amortization             337    5.4        303    5.0
    Interest expense                          164    2.7        135    2.3

                                            5,479   88.6      5,340   89.9

    Income before minority interests and
     income taxes                             703   11.4        597   10.1

    Minority interests in earnings of
     consolidated entities                     40    0.7         38    0.7

    Income before income taxes                663   10.7        559    9.4

    Provision for income taxes                249    4.0        214    3.6

         Net income                          $414    6.7       $345    5.8

    Diluted earnings per share              $0.95             $0.69

    Shares used in computing diluted
     earnings per share (000)             435,660           497,621



                                   HCA Inc.
                      Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures
                    Consolidated Operating Results Summary
               (Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)

                                                          First Quarter
                                                     2005               2004

    Revenues                                        $6,182             $5,937

    Net income:
      Net income                                      $414               $345
      Depreciation and amortization                    337                303
      Interest expense                                 164                135
      Minority interests in earnings of
       consolidated entities                            40                 38
      Provision for income taxes                       249                214

      Adjusted EBITDA (a)                           $1,204             $1,035

    Diluted earnings per share:
      Net income                                     $0.95              $0.69

    Shares used in computing diluted
     earnings per share (000)                      435,660            497,621

    (a) Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure.  The Company believes
        that adjusted EBITDA is an important operating measure that
        supplements discussions and analysis of the Company's results of
        operations.  The Company believes that it is useful to investors to
        provide disclosures of its results of operations on the same basis as
        that used by management.  HCA's management relies upon adjusted EBITDA
        as a primary measure to review and assess operating performance of its
        hospital facilities and their management teams.

        Management and investors review both the Company's overall performance
        (including GAAP net income and GAAP EPS) and the operating performance
        of the Company's health care facilities (adjusted EBITDA).  Adjusted
        EBITDA and the adjusted EBITDA margin (adjusted EBITDA divided by
        revenues) are utilized by management and investors to compare the
        Company's current operating results with the corresponding periods
        during the previous year and to compare the Company's operating
        results with other companies in the health care industry.

        Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under
        accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, and
        should not be considered an alternative to net income as a measure of
        operating performance or to cash flows from operating, investing and
        financing activities as a measure of liquidity.  Because adjusted
        EBITDA is not a measure determined in accordance with generally
        accepted accounting principles and is susceptible to varying
        calculations, adjusted EBITDA, as presented, may not be comparable to
        other similarly titled measures presented by other companies.



                                   HCA Inc.
                      Supplemental Non-GAAP Disclosures
  Operating Measures Adjusted For the Impact of Discounts for the Uninsured
                              First Quarter 2005
        (Dollars in millions, except revenue per equivalent admission)

                           Reported  Uninsured  Non-GAAP    GAAP %  Non-GAAP %
                             GAAP    Discounts  Adjusted      of     Adjusted
                            Amounts   Adjust-  Amounts (b) Revenues  Revenues
                                      ment (a)
    Reported:
    Revenues                 $6,182     $109     $6,291     100.0%    100.0%

    Salaries and benefits     2,443        -      2,443      39.5%     38.8%
    Supplies                  1,051        -      1,051      17.0%     16.7%
    Other operating expenses    972        -        972      15.7%     15.4%
    Provision for doubtful
     accounts                   574      109        683       9.3%     10.9%

    Admissions              432,643             432,643
    Equivalent admissions   636,418             636,418
    Revenue per equivalent
     admission               $9,714              $9,885
    % change from prior year   2.3%                4.1%

    Same Facility:
    Revenues                 $6,139     $108     $6,247
    Admissions              431,247             431,247
    Equivalent admissions   633,933             633,933
    Revenue per equivalent
     admission               $9,683              $9,855
    % change from prior year   2.5%                4.3%

    (a) Represents the impact of the discounts for the uninsured for the
        quarter.  On January 1, 2005, HCA modified its policies to provide
        discounts to uninsured patients who do not qualify for Medicaid or
        charity care.  These discounts are similar to those provided to many
        local managed care plans.  In implementing the discount policy, HCA
        first attempts to qualify uninsured patients for Medicaid, other
        Federal or state assistance or charity care.  If an uninsured patient
        does not qualify for these programs, the uninsured discount is
        applied.

    (b) Revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts, certain operating
        expense categories as a percentage of revenues and revenue per
        equivalent admission have been adjusted to exclude the discounts under
        HCA's uninsured discount policy (non-GAAP financial measures).  The
        Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures are useful to
        investors to provide disclosures of its results of operations on the
        same basis as that used by management.  Management uses this
        information to compare revenues, the provision for doubtful accounts,
        certain operating expense categories as a percentage of revenues and
        revenue per equivalent admission for periods prior and subsequent to
        the January 1, 2005 implementation of the uninsured discount policy.
        Management finds this information to be useful to enable the
        evaluation of revenue and certain expense category trends that are
        influenced by patient volumes and are generally analyzed as a
        percentage of net revenues.  These non-GAAP financial measures should
        not be considered an alternative to GAAP financial measures.  The
        Company believes this supplemental information provides it and the
        users of its financial statements with useful information for period-
        to-period comparisons.  Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures
        when evaluating the Company's overall financial performance.



                                    HCA Inc.
                      Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                              (Dollars in millions)

                                                   March 31,      December 31,
                                                     2005             2004
                  ASSETS
    Current assets:
         Cash and cash equivalents                     $144             $129
         Accounts receivable, net                     3,254            3,083
         Inventories                                    577              577
         Deferred income taxes                          458              467
         Other                                          484              427

              Total current assets                    4,917            4,683

    Property and equipment, at cost                  20,216           19,970
    Accumulated depreciation                         (8,888)          (8,574)
                                                     11,328           11,396

    Investments of insurance subsidiary               1,953            2,047
    Investments in and advances to
     affiliates                                         611              486
    Goodwill                                          2,579            2,540
    Deferred loan costs                                  96               99
    Other                                               205              214

                                                    $21,689          $21,465

      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    Current liabilities:
         Accounts payable                              $842             $855
         Accrued salaries                               581              579
         Other accrued expenses                       1,298            1,254
         Long-term debt due within one year             486              486

              Total current liabilities               3,207            3,174

    Long-term debt                                    9,372           10,044
    Professional liability risks                      1,326            1,283
    Deferred income taxes and other
     liabilities                                      1,664            1,748
    Minority interests in equity of
     consolidated entities                              789              809

    Stockholders' equity                              5,331            4,407

                                                    $21,689          $21,465

    Current ratio                                      1.53             1.48
    Ratio of debt to debt plus common and
     minority equity                                  61.7%            66.9%
    Shares outstanding (thousands)                  441,167          422,642



                                    HCA Inc.
                      Consolidated Statements of Cash Flow
                                  First Quarter
                              (Dollars in millions)

                                                      2005               2004
    Cash flows from operating activities:
      Net income                                      $414               $345
      Adjustments to reconcile net income
       to net cash provided by operating
       activities:
        Provision for doubtful accounts                574                694
        Depreciation and amortization                  337                303
        Income taxes                                   334                354
        Change in operating assets and
         liabilities                                  (872)              (972)
        Other                                           36                 48

           Net cash provided by
            operating activities                       823                772

    Cash flows from investing activities:
      Purchase of property and equipment              (288)              (390)
      Acquisitions of hospitals and
       health care entities                            (36)               (15)
      Disposal of hospitals and health
       care entities                                     7                 25
      Change in investments                            (86)               (58)
      Other                                             17                 (3)

           Net cash used in investing
            activities                                (386)              (441)

    Cash flows from financing activities:
      Issuance of long-term debt                         -                501
      Net change in revolving bank credit             (670)              (130)
      Repayment of long-term debt                       (6)              (335)
      Repurchases of common stock                        -               (375)
      Issuances of common stock                        377                 58
      Payment of cash dividends                        (56)               (10)
      Other                                            (67)                (7)

           Net cash used in financing
            activities                                (422)              (298)

    Change in cash and cash equivalents                 15                 33
    Cash and cash equivalents at
     beginning of period                               129                115

    Cash and cash equivalents at end of
     period                                           $144               $148

    Interest payments                                 $130               $103
    Income tax payments, net of refunds               ($85)             ($140)



                                    HCA Inc.
                              Operating Statistics

                                                         First Quarter
                                                     2005              2004
    Consolidated Hospitals:

          Number of Hospitals                          183               184
          Weighted Average Licensed Beds            41,856            41,934
          Licensed Beds at End of Period            41,892            41,931

       Reported:
          Admissions                               432,600           430,300
                % Change                              0.5%
          Equivalent Admissions                    636,400           625,200
                % Change                              1.8%
          Revenue per Equivalent Admission          $9,714            $9,497
                % Change                              2.3%
          Inpatient Revenue per Admission           $9,069            $8,692
                % Change                              4.3%

          Patient Days                           2,159,200         2,173,600
          Equivalent Patient Days                3,176,200         3,158,200

          Inpatient Surgery Cases                  135,500           135,400
                % Change                              0.1%
          Outpatient Surgery Cases                 211,000           207,500
                % Change                              1.7%

          Emergency Room Visits                  1,391,800         1,296,900
                % Change                              7.3%

          Outpatient Revenues as a
              Percentage of Patient Revenues         35.6%             36.1%

          Average Length of Stay                       5.0               5.1

          Occupancy                                  57.3%             57.0%
          Equivalent Occupancy                       84.3%             82.8%

       Same Facility:
          Admissions                               431,200           427,200
                % Change                              1.0%
          Equivalent Admissions                    633,900           620,700
                % Change                              2.1%
          Revenue per Equivalent Admission          $9,683            $9,447
                % Change                              2.5%
          Inpatient Revenue per Admission           $9,063            $8,659
                % Change                              4.7%

          Inpatient Surgery Cases                  135,200           134,800
                % Change                              0.4%
          Outpatient Surgery Cases                 207,600           204,500
                % Change                              1.5%

          Emergency Room Visits                  1,385,200         1,283,900
                % Change                              7.9%

    Number of Consolidated and
    Non-Consolidated (50/50 Equity
    Joint Ventures) Hospitals:

          Consolidated                                 183               184
          Non-Consolidated (50/50 Equity
              Joint Ventures)                            7                 7

          Total Number of Hospitals                    190               191

SOURCE HCA

Investors, Mark Kimbrough, +1-615-344-2688, or Media, Jeff Prescott, +1-615-344-5708
both of HCA
http://www.prnewswire.com
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements in this press release regarding HCA's business which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve risks and uncertainties. For a discussion of such risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report or Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year.


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