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Encompass Health Corp.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 30 April 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 4 raised, 1 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue and earnings rose: Net operating revenue was $1,586.6 million, against $1,455.4 million. Income from continuing operations per diluted share was $1.77, against $1.48, and adjusted EPS was $1.60, against $1.37. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $348.8 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $348.8 million, against $313.6 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow is reported separately as a non-GAAP measure. Source
  • New Irmo hospital opened: The company opened a 49-bed hospital in Irmo, South Carolina, and added 44 beds across existing facilities during the quarter, as part of expanding treatment capacity. Source
  • Discharges rose; same-store growth 1.6%: Discharges were 67,763, against 64,985 a year earlier, a rise of 4.3%. Same-store discharge growth was 1.6% for the quarter. Source
  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $313.1 million, against $288.6 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $193.8 million, against $222.4 million. Source
  • Distributions to noncontrolling interests rose: Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates were $57.8 million, against $32.9 million. The company cited these distributions in its adjusted free cash flow reconciliation. Source

“We are very pleased with our start to 2026 as first quarter revenue increased 9.0% and Adjusted EBITDA grew 11.2%,”

Mark Tarr, President and Chief Executive Officer

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net operating revenue Sourcefull-year 2026$6,375 to $6,470 millionRaised from $6,365 to $6,465 million
Adjusted EBITDA Sourcefull-year 2026$1,350 to $1,380 millionRaised from $1,340 to $1,380 million
Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations Sourcefull-year 2026$5.89 to $6.11Raised from $5.81 to $6.10
Interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees Sourcefull-year 2026approximately $125 millionRaised from approximately $120 million
Amortization of debt-related items Sourcefull-year 2026approximately $10 millionKept
New hospitals and beds Sourcefull-year 2026eight hospitals with a total of 389 beds

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: The company increased full-year 2026 guidance for net operating revenue, from $6,365 to $6,465 million to $6,375 to $6,470 million. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 Adjusted EBITDA guidance moved from $1,340 to $1,380 million to $1,350 to $1,380 million. The low end was raised. Source
  • Guidance raised: Full-year 2026 adjusted EPS from continuing operations guidance moved from $5.81 to $6.10 to $5.89 to $6.11. Source
  • Guidance raised: The estimate for 2026 interest expense and amortization of debt discounts and fees rose from about $120 million to about $125 million. Source
  • New: The company opened a new 49-bed hospital in Irmo, South Carolina, during the quarter. Source
  • New: The company recorded a $17.5 million gain on the sale of its Gamma Knife business in the quarter. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue and earnings rose: Net operating revenue was $1,586.6 million, against $1,455.4 million. Income from continuing operations per diluted share was $1.77, against $1.48, and adjusted EPS was $1.60, against $1.37. Source
  • Net income attributable to Encompass Health: Net income attributable to Encompass Health was $194.5 million, against $151.5 million. Discontinued operations contributed $15.9 million, net of tax, within that total. Source
  • Adjusted EBITDA reached $348.8 million: Adjusted EBITDA was $348.8 million, against $313.6 million a year earlier. Adjusted free cash flow is reported separately as a non-GAAP measure. Source

Capacity and facilities

  • New Irmo hospital opened: The company opened a 49-bed hospital in Irmo, South Carolina, and added 44 beds across existing facilities during the quarter, as part of expanding treatment capacity. Source
  • Hospital count rose to 174: The company's footprint is described as 174 hospitals in 39 states and Puerto Rico. The prior release described 173 hospitals in the same states. Source

“Our value proposition and operating strategy continue to be validated and we remain highly optimistic about the long-term prospects of our business.”

Mark Tarr, President and Chief Executive Officer

Patient volumes and pricing

  • Discharges rose; same-store growth 1.6%: Discharges were 67,763, against 64,985 a year earlier, a rise of 4.3%. Same-store discharge growth was 1.6% for the quarter. Source
  • Revenue per discharge rose: Net patient revenue per discharge was $22,633, against $21,816 a year earlier, an increase of 3.7%. Source

Costs and income tax

  • Salaries and benefits rose: Salaries and benefits were $818.1 million, against $762.3 million. Other operating expenses were $241.9 million, against $217.5 million. Source
  • Depreciation and amortization rose: Depreciation and amortization was $87.3 million, against $79.2 million. Total operating expenses were $1,285.0 million, against $1,188.4 million. Source
  • Income tax expense rose: The provision for income tax expense was $56.4 million, against $41.6 million, and income from continuing operations was $232.3 million, against $197.0 million. Source

Cash flow and capital spending

  • Operating cash flow rose: Net cash provided by operating activities was $313.1 million, against $288.6 million. Adjusted free cash flow was $193.8 million, against $222.4 million. Source
  • Distributions to noncontrolling interests rose: Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests of consolidated affiliates were $57.8 million, against $32.9 million. The company cited these distributions in its adjusted free cash flow reconciliation. Source
  • Capital spending was little changed: Purchases of property, equipment, and intangible assets were $162.4 million, against $163.1 million. Net cash used in investing activities was $150.1 million, mainly capital expenditures. Source

Shareholder cash returns

  • Share repurchases rose: Repurchases of common stock, including fees and expenses, were $71.6 million, against $32.1 million a year earlier. Source
  • Dividends paid rose: Dividends paid on common stock were $20.3 million, against $18.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Diluted share count declined: Diluted weighted average common shares were 100.6 million, against 102.1 million a year earlier. Source

Debt, asset sale and balance sheet

  • Long-term debt increased: Long-term debt, net of current portion, was $2,530.9 million at March 31, 2026, against $2,447.2 million at December 31, 2025. Source
  • Revolver borrowings exceeded repayments: The company borrowed $420.0 million on its revolving credit facility and paid back $330.0 million during the quarter. Source
  • Gamma Knife sale gain recorded: The company recorded a $17.5 million gain on the sale of Gamma Knife. The gain is removed in reconciling net income to Adjusted EBITDA. Source

Coming up, as management said on 30 April 2026

  • Form 10-Q to be filed: The company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2026 is to be filed later and is to be read alongside this release. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Discharges (patient volumes) Source67,763 in Q1 2026, against 64,985 in Q1 2025 (up 4.3%)
Same-store discharge growth (utilization) Source1.6%
Net patient revenue per discharge Source$22,633 in Q1 2026, against $21,816 in Q1 2025 (up 3.7%)

Risks management discussed

  • Financial: Management said certain items outside its control, such as settlements and other non-operating items, cannot be predicted and could be material to GAAP results. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.