Jefferies Raises Price Target on Lifepoint Hospitals (LPNT), Above Average Growth Over Next Several Years
LPNT Hot Sheet
Rating Summary:6 Buy, 10 Hold, 0 Sell
Rating Trend:
Up
Today's Overall Ratings:
Up: 20 | Down: 11 | New: 38
Jefferies is reiterating its Buy rating on shares of Lifepoint Hospitals (NASDAQ: LPNT) and is increasing its price target from $45 to $47.
The company released its Q3 results with revenue and EBITDA both slightly missing expectations. The firm notes that due to weaker than previous inpatient and outpatient surgeries, SS adjusted admissions fell 0.9 percent. LPNT reported EPS of $0.77 as a result of solid expense management and improved profitability, topping the consensus of $0.71.
Lifepoint Hospitals balance sheet remains to be major asset for company as it has the best balance sheet among its peers with 3x leverage and over 5x interest coverage.
An analyst at Jefferies comments, "LPNT largely serves smaller, rural markets hit hard by job losses more so than urban areas. We estimate that the weighted average unemployment rate in LPNT markets is close to 10%. For now, we are not anticipating any marked decline in these rates. This, along with strained federal and state budgets, will continue to be formidable headwinds."
The firm is raising its FY11 and FY12 EPS estimates from $3.11 and $3.41 to $3.17 and $3.50. Jefferies revenue estimates for the two years are $3.53 billion and $3.73 billion.
For more ratings news on Lifepoint Hospitals click here and for the rating history of Lifepoint Hospitals click here.
Shares of Lifepoint Hospitals closed at $39.45 yesterday, with a 52 week range of $28.95-$43.45.
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The company released its Q3 results with revenue and EBITDA both slightly missing expectations. The firm notes that due to weaker than previous inpatient and outpatient surgeries, SS adjusted admissions fell 0.9 percent. LPNT reported EPS of $0.77 as a result of solid expense management and improved profitability, topping the consensus of $0.71.
Lifepoint Hospitals balance sheet remains to be major asset for company as it has the best balance sheet among its peers with 3x leverage and over 5x interest coverage.
An analyst at Jefferies comments, "LPNT largely serves smaller, rural markets hit hard by job losses more so than urban areas. We estimate that the weighted average unemployment rate in LPNT markets is close to 10%. For now, we are not anticipating any marked decline in these rates. This, along with strained federal and state budgets, will continue to be formidable headwinds."
The firm is raising its FY11 and FY12 EPS estimates from $3.11 and $3.41 to $3.17 and $3.50. Jefferies revenue estimates for the two years are $3.53 billion and $3.73 billion.
For more ratings news on Lifepoint Hospitals click here and for the rating history of Lifepoint Hospitals click here.
Shares of Lifepoint Hospitals closed at $39.45 yesterday, with a 52 week range of $28.95-$43.45.
Discover Wall Street's best ratings calls with the pros - Ratings Insider Elite. Free Trial!
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