HCA's plans for an initial public offering of shares could prompt more IPOs from other for-profit healthcare companies, from hospitals to ASCs, according to a report by the Nashville Business Journal.
HCA announced plans on May 7 for an IPO in order to raise up to $4.6 billion, about $2.5 billion of which would come from the sale of new shares.
Industry experts say the huge stock sale is a chance to test the waters of capital markets since the passage of the healthcare reform law, which is generally regarded as providing a net boost to hospitals and perhaps other healthcare sectors.
"People might start thinking, 'OK, if HCA is doing well, then maybe surgery centers are doing well or maybe other hospital healthcare companies or maybe post-acute (facilities) because (hospitals) are going to be sending the patients on to them,'" an equity fund manager said.
Read the Nashville Business Journal's report on HCA.