Company Increases Capital Spending, Authorizes Additional Share Repurchase Program and Increases Quarterly Dividend
January 27, 2022 
NASHVILLE, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) today announced financial and operating results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2021.
Key fourth quarter metrics (all percentage changes compare 4Q 2021 to 4Q 2020 unless otherwise noted):
- Revenues totaled $15.064 billion
- Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. totaled $1.814 billion, or $5.75 per diluted share
- Adjusted EBITDA totaled $3.149 billion
- Cash flows provided by operating activities totaled $2.443 billion
- Same facility admissions and same facility equivalent admissions increased 0.6 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively
“The Omicron surge started to influence our business in early December. Overall, our teams continued their tremendous response, and the effects of the pandemic’s ever-changing conditions were managed well as reflected in our fourth quarter financial results,” said Sam Hazen, Chief Executive Officer of HCA Healthcare. “Across many dimensions of our business, our teams demonstrated an impressive ability to adjust quickly and effectively to three different surges during the year and deliver for our patients, our communities, and our colleagues.”
Revenues in the fourth quarter of 2021 increased to $15.064 billion, from $14.293 billion in the fourth quarter of 2020. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. totaled $1.814 billion, or $5.75 per diluted share, compared to $1.426 billion, or $4.13 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2020. Results for the fourth quarter of 2021 include gains on sales of facilities of $563 million, or $1.33 per diluted share.
For the fourth quarter of 2021, Adjusted EBITDA totaled $3.149 billion, compared to $3.118 billion in the fourth quarter of 2020. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A table providing supplemental information on Adjusted EBITDA and reconciling net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. to Adjusted EBITDA is included in this release.
Same facility admissions and same facility equivalent admissions increased 0.6 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2021 compared to the prior year period. Same facility emergency room visits increased 19.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the prior year period. Same facility inpatient surgeries declined 1.2 percent, and same facility outpatient surgeries increased 5.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the same period of 2020. Same facility revenue per equivalent admission increased 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the fourth quarter of 2020.
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 totaled $58.752 billion, compared to $51.533 billion in the year ended December 31, 2020. Net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. was $6.956 billion, or $21.16 per diluted share, compared to $3.754 billion, or $10.93 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2020. Results for the year ended December 31, 2021 include gains on sales of facilities of $1.620 billion, or $3.69 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $12 million, or $0.03 per diluted share. Results for 2020 included losses on sales of facilities of $7 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, and losses on retirement of debt of $295 million, or $0.66 per diluted share.
For 2021, Adjusted EBITDA totaled $12.644billion, compared to $10.037 billion in 2020. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A table providing supplemental information on Adjusted EBITDA and reconciling net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. to Adjusted EBITDA is included in this release.
Balance Sheet and Cash Flows from Operations
As of December 31, 2021, HCA Healthcare, Inc.’s balance sheet reflected cash and cash equivalents of $1.451 billion, total debt of $34.579 billion, and total assets of $50.742 billion. During the fourth quarter of 2021, capital expenditures totaled $1.192 billion, excluding acquisitions.
During the fourth quarter of 2021, the Company repurchased 8.469 million shares of its common stock at a cost of $2.072 billion. The Company had $586 million remaining under its repurchase authorization as of December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, the Company had $3.640 billion of availability under its credit facilities.
Share Repurchase Program
The HCA Healthcare, Inc. Board of Directors has authorized an additional share repurchase program for up to $8 billion of the Company’s outstanding common stock. Repurchases will be made in accordance with applicable securities laws and may be made at management’s discretion from time to time in the open market, through privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. The repurchase program has no time limit and may be suspended for periods or discontinued at any time.
Dividend
HCA Healthcare today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.56 per share on the Company’s common stock. The dividend will be paid on March 31, 2022 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 17, 2022.
The declaration and payment of any future dividend will be subject to the discretion of the Board of Directors and will depend on a variety of factors, including the Company’s financial condition and results of operations and contractual restrictions. Future dividends are expected to be funded by cash balances and future cash flows from operations.
2022 Guidance
Today, the Company issued the following estimated guidance for 2022:
| 2022 Guidance Range | |||
| Revenues | $60.0 to $62.0 billion | ||
| Net Income Attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. | $5.550 to $5.835 billion | ||
| Adjusted EBITDA | $12.55 to $13.05 billion | ||
| EPS (diluted) | $18.40 to $19.20 per diluted share |
Capital expenditures for 2022, excluding acquisitions, are estimated to be approximately $4.2 billion, a 17% increase from $3.577 billion in 2021.
The Company’s 2022 guidance contains a number of assumptions, including, among others, the Company’s current expectations regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, and excludes the impact of items such as, but not limited to, gains or losses on sales of facilities, losses on retirement of debt, legal claims costs and impairment of long-lived assets.
Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. A table reconciling forecasted net income attributable to HCA Healthcare, Inc. to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA is included in this release.
The Company’s guidance is based on current plans and expectations and is subject to a number of known and unknown uncertainties and risks, including those set forth below in the Company’s “Forward-Looking Statements.”
Annual Stockholders’ Meeting
The Company’s 2022 annual stockholders’ meeting will be held virtually on April 21, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. Central Daylight Time for stockholders of record as of February 25, 2022.
Earnings Conference Call
HCA Healthcare will host a conference call for investors at 9:00 a.m. Central Standard 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. The webcast can be accessed at: https://investor.hcahealthcare.com/events-and-presentations
About the Company
As of December 31, 2021, HCA Healthcare operated 182 hospitals and approximately 2,200 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws, which involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the Company’s financial guidance for the year ending December 31, 2022, as well as other statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words like “may,” “believe,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “initiative” or “continue.” These forward-looking statements are based on our current plans and expectations and are subject to a number of known and unknown uncertainties and risks, many of which are beyond our control, which could significantly affect current plans and expectations and our future financial position and results of operations. These factors include, but are not limited to, (1) developments related to COVID-19, including, without limitation, the length and severity of the pandemic and the spread of virus strains with new epidemiological characteristics; the volume of canceled or rescheduled procedures and the volume of COVID-19 patients cared for across our health systems; measures we are taking to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact and terms of government and administrative regulation and stimulus measures (including the Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (“CARES”) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (“ARPA”) and other enacted and potential future legislation) and whether such programs continue or new similar programs are enacted in the future; changes in revenues due to declining patient volumes, changes in payer mix and deteriorating macroeconomic conditions (including increases in uninsured and underinsured patients); potential increased expenses related to labor, supply chain or other expenditures; workforce disruptions, including the impact of any current or future vaccine mandates; supply shortages and disruptions; and the timing, availability and adoption of effective medical treatments and vaccines (including boosters), (2) the impact of our substantial indebtedness and the ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms, as well as risks associated with disruptions in the financial markets and the business of financial institutions as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic, which could impact us from a financial perspective, (3) the impact of current and future federal and state health reform initiatives and possible changes to other federal, state or local laws and regulations affecting the health care industry, including, but not limited to, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, as amended by the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (collectively, the “Affordable Care Act”), and the effects of additional changes to the Affordable Care Act, its implementation, or interpretation (including through executive orders and court challenges), and proposals to expand coverage of federally-funded insurance programs as an alternative to private insurance or establish a single-payer system (such reforms often referred to as “Medicare for All”), and also including any such laws or governmental regulations which are adopted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, (4) the effects related to the implementation of sequestration spending reductions required under the Budget Control Act of 2011, related legislation extending these reductions, and those required under the Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010 (“PAYGO Act”) as a result of the federal budget deficit impact of the ARPA, and the potential for future deficit reduction legislation that may alter these spending reductions, which include cuts to Medicare payments, or create additional spending reductions, (5) increases in the amount and risk of collectability of uninsured accounts and deductibles and copayment amounts for insured accounts, (6) the ability to achieve operating and financial targets, and attain expected levels of patient volumes and control the costs of providing services, (7) possible changes in Medicare, Medicaid and other state programs, including Medicaid supplemental payment programs or Medicaid waiver programs, that may impact reimbursements to health care providers and insurers and the size of the uninsured or underinsured population, (8) increases in wages and the ability to attract and retain qualified management and personnel, including affiliated physicians, nurses and medical and technical support personnel, (9) the highly competitive nature of the health care business, (10) changes in service mix, revenue mix and surgical volumes, including potential declines in the population covered under third-party payer agreements, the ability to enter into and renew third-party payer provider agreements on acceptable terms and the impact of consumer-driven health plans and physician utilization trends and practices, (11) the efforts of health insurers, health care providers, large employer groups and others to contain health care costs, (12) the outcome of our continuing efforts to monitor, maintain and comply with appropriate laws, regulations, policies and procedures, (13) the availability and terms of capital to fund the expansion of our business and improvements to our existing facilities, (14) changes in accounting practices, (15) changes in general economic conditions nationally and regionally in our markets, including inflation and economic and business conditions (and the impact thereof on the economy, financial markets and banking industry) resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, (16) the emergence of and effects related to other pandemics, epidemics and infectious diseases, (17) future divestitures which may result in charges and possible impairments of long-lived assets, (18) changes in business strategy or development plans, (19) delays in receiving payments for services provided, (20) the outcome of pending and any future tax audits, disputes and litigation associated with our tax positions, (21) potential adverse impact of known and unknown government investigations, litigation and other claims that may be made against us, (22) the impact of potential cybersecurity incidents or security breaches, (23) our ongoing ability to demonstrate meaningful use of certified electronic health record (“EHR”) technology and the impact of interoperability requirements, (24) the impact of natural disasters, such as hurricanes and floods, or similar events beyond our control, (25) changes in U.S. federal, state, or foreign tax laws including interpretive guidance that may be issued by taxing authorities or other standard setting bodies, and (26) other risk factors described in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of the factors that will determine our future results are beyond our ability 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. We undertake 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 Healthcare” as used throughout this release refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.
