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Universal Health Services Inc.: Q1 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q1 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 28 April 2026: press release. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Revenue rose 9.6% in the quarter: Net revenues were $4.495 billion against $4.100 billion a year earlier, a 9.6% increase. Source
  • Diluted EPS reached $5.65: Reported diluted EPS was $5.65, against $4.80 a year earlier, on net income attributable to UHS of $348.7 million. Source
  • Acute same-facility revenue up 8.2%: Same facility acute care revenues rose 8.2%. Adjusted admissions were unchanged, adjusted patient days rose 0.8%, and revenue per adjusted admission rose 6.3%. Source
  • Behavioral same-facility revenue up 7.3%: Same facility behavioral health revenues rose 7.3%. Adjusted admissions rose 1.2%, adjusted patient days rose 1.6%, and revenue per adjusted admission rose 6.2%. Source
  • Acute operating margin reached 12.2%: Same facility acute income from operations was 12.2% of net revenues, against 11.4%. Supplies expense was 14.8%, against 15.3%. Source
  • Operating cash flow was $402 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $402 million, against $360 million a year earlier. Source
  • Credit facility capacity raised $900 million: In April 2026 the credit agreement was amended to add $900 million: the revolver rose to $1.5 billion and term loan A to $1.455 billion. The September 26, 2029 maturity is unchanged. Source
  • 675,000 shares repurchased in quarter: During the first quarter of 2026 the company repurchased 675,000 shares for about $127.3 million, an average of about $189 per share. Source

“Our strategy includes building or acquiring high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, investing in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and becoming the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve.”

Universal Health Services Inc., press release

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Net revenuesyear ending December 31, 2026$18.417 billion to $18.789 billion
Adjusted EBITDA net of NCIyear ending December 31, 2026$2.641 billion to $2.789 billion
EPS-dilutedyear ending December 31, 2026$22.64 to $24.52 per share
Capital expendituresyear ending December 31, 2026$950 million to $1.1 billion

What changed from last quarter

  • New: The credit agreement was amended in April 2026 to increase borrowing capacity by $900 million, including a new $400 million delayed draw term loan A. Source

Results and growth drivers

  • Revenue rose 9.6% in the quarter: Net revenues were $4.495 billion against $4.100 billion a year earlier, a 9.6% increase. Source
  • Diluted EPS reached $5.65: Reported diluted EPS was $5.65, against $4.80 a year earlier, on net income attributable to UHS of $348.7 million. Source
  • Adjusted EPS was $5.62: Adjusted net income was $346.5 million, or $5.62 per diluted share, against $4.84 a year earlier. Source
  • EBITDA net of NCI reached $651.7 million: EBITDA net of NCI was $651.7 million, a 14.5% margin, against $603.9 million and 14.7%. Source

Segments and same facility volumes

  • Acute same-facility revenue up 8.2%: Same facility acute care revenues rose 8.2%. Adjusted admissions were unchanged, adjusted patient days rose 0.8%, and revenue per adjusted admission rose 6.3%. Source
  • Behavioral same-facility revenue up 7.3%: Same facility behavioral health revenues rose 7.3%. Adjusted admissions rose 1.2%, adjusted patient days rose 1.6%, and revenue per adjusted admission rose 6.2%. Source
  • Facility counts rose at both segments: Owned and leased hospitals were 29, against 28 a year earlier, and behavioral health facilities were 346, against 334. Source

“is helpful to our investors as a measure of our operating performance.”

Universal Health Services Inc., press release

Costs, margins and pricing

  • Acute salaries fell as share of revenue: Same facility acute salaries, wages and benefits were 38.6% of net revenues, against 40.0%. Other operating expenses were 29.5%, against 28.0%. Source
  • Acute operating margin reached 12.2%: Same facility acute income from operations was 12.2% of net revenues, against 11.4%. Supplies expense was 14.8%, against 15.3%. Source
  • Behavioral margin 20.1% against 20.0%: Same facility behavioral income from operations was 20.1% of net revenues, against 20.0%. Salaries were 54.6% of revenue, against 54.3%. Source
  • Provider taxes offset in all-acute totals: All acute other operating expenses were 32.9% of revenue, against 30.4%. Provider tax assessments raised both revenue and expenses but had no effect on pre-tax income. Source

Cash flow and working capital

  • Operating cash flow was $402 million: Net cash provided by operating activities was $402 million, against $360 million a year earlier. Source
  • Receivables change was favorable: Accounts receivable was a $95 million favorable change, partly reflecting Medicaid supplemental payment funds delayed in the first quarter of 2025. Source
  • Payables timing reduced working capital: Other working capital was an $80 million unfavorable change, due mainly to the timing of accounts payable disbursements. Source

Capital spending and credit facility

  • Capital expenditures were $217.2 million: Capital expenditures were $217.2 million, against $239.0 million a year earlier. Source
  • Credit facility capacity raised $900 million: In April 2026 the credit agreement was amended to add $900 million: the revolver rose to $1.5 billion and term loan A to $1.455 billion. The September 26, 2029 maturity is unchanged. Source
  • Revolver borrowings near $373 million: Revolver borrowings were about $373 million at March 31, 2026. Source

Share repurchases and leverage

  • 675,000 shares repurchased in quarter: During the first quarter of 2026 the company repurchased 675,000 shares for about $127.3 million, an average of about $189 per share. Source
  • Repurchase authorization $1.298 billion remaining: About $1.298 billion of repurchase authorization was available at March 31, 2026. Source
  • Debt to adjusted EBITDA 1.78: On a trailing four-quarter basis, debt to Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI was 1.78 at March 31, 2026, against 2.01 a year earlier. Source

Earnings adjustments and noncontrolling interests

  • Prior-year equity securities loss: The first quarter of 2025 included an after-tax loss of $3.3 million, or $.05 per diluted share, on equity securities that were sold in the fourth quarter of 2025. Source
  • ASU 2016-09 tax benefit recorded: The first quarter of 2026 included a net tax benefit of $2.2 million, or $.03 per diluted share, from ASU 2016-09, net of section 162(m) limits. Source
  • Noncontrolling interests share rose: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests was $10.0 million, against $4.9 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 28 April 2026

  • Talkspace closing triggers term loan draw: The $400 million delayed draw term loan A is expected to be drawn upon closing of the Talkspace acquisition. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Same facility acute care revenues growth Source8.2%
Same facility behavioral health revenues growth Source7.3%
Adjusted admissions, acute same facility Source0.0%
Adjusted admissions, behavioral same facility Source1.2%
Adjusted patient days, acute same facility Source0.8%
Adjusted patient days, behavioral same facility Source1.6%
Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI margin Source14.4%

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.