HCA Healthcare, Encompass Health, Universal Health initiated with Buy at UBS. UBS analyst Whit Mayo launched coverage of Healthcare Facilities with a broader research note titled "Navigating an Evolving Landscape - Who Will Be Left?". The analyst is most bullish on stocks that "discount the perceived secular sector headwinds" such as Buy-rated HCA Healthcare (HCA), Encompass Health (EHC), and Universal Health (UHS), adding that investors also under-appreciate the accelerating free-cash flow profiles of these companies. Mayo differentiates HCA Healthcare based on its 0% correlation in national hospital utilization trends against public results. The analyst is also bullish on LHC Group (LHCG), stating that its same-property admission growth projections are higher than the rest. Mayo rates Community Health Systems (CYH), DaVita (DVA), and Mednax (MD) at a Sell with a bearish view of dialysis, births, and inpatient surgery end-markets. The analyst sees Community Health Systems same-property volume trend at a relatively low rate. Mayo also gives Acadia (ACHC), Amedisys (AMED), Surgery Partners (SGRY), and Tenet (THC) a Neutral rating as part of this research note based on their relative valuation as a factor of same-property volume growth.
