For-profit hospital stocks fell significantly in the first week of April after the government issued favorable news for private Medicare Advantage insurers.
Last week, CMS announced it would increase rates paid to MA plans by 3.3 percent next year, a big policy change from the agency's initial 2.3 percent cut to MA plans. Many speculated the favorable health insurer news led some shareholders to jump ship to insurer stock.
However, other stock analysts believe the drops could simply be "profit-taking" from investors who are taking advantage of the industry's huge growth so far this year. Tenet, HCA and CHS tumbled the most last week at 7.9, 7.8 and 5.4 percent, respectively.
Here are the five-day stock prices and percentage changes for the week of April 1 through April 5.
• Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn.): $44.82 per share (down 5.42 percent)
• Health Management Associates (Naples, Fla.): $12.46 per share (down 3.19 percent)
• Hospital Corporation of America (Nashville, Tenn.): $37.48 per share (down 7.75 percent)
• LifePoint Hospitals (Brentwood, Tenn.): $46.34 per share (down 4.37 percent)
• Tenet Healthcare (Dallas): $43.82 per share (down 7.90 percent)
• Universal Health Services (King of Prussia, Pa.): $62.44 per share (down 2.24 percent)
• Vanguard Health Systems (Nashville, Tenn.): $14.99 per share (up 0.81 percent)
Last week, CMS announced it would increase rates paid to MA plans by 3.3 percent next year, a big policy change from the agency's initial 2.3 percent cut to MA plans. Many speculated the favorable health insurer news led some shareholders to jump ship to insurer stock.
However, other stock analysts believe the drops could simply be "profit-taking" from investors who are taking advantage of the industry's huge growth so far this year. Tenet, HCA and CHS tumbled the most last week at 7.9, 7.8 and 5.4 percent, respectively.
Here are the five-day stock prices and percentage changes for the week of April 1 through April 5.
• Community Health Systems (Franklin, Tenn.): $44.82 per share (down 5.42 percent)
• Health Management Associates (Naples, Fla.): $12.46 per share (down 3.19 percent)
• Hospital Corporation of America (Nashville, Tenn.): $37.48 per share (down 7.75 percent)
• LifePoint Hospitals (Brentwood, Tenn.): $46.34 per share (down 4.37 percent)
• Tenet Healthcare (Dallas): $43.82 per share (down 7.90 percent)
• Universal Health Services (King of Prussia, Pa.): $62.44 per share (down 2.24 percent)
• Vanguard Health Systems (Nashville, Tenn.): $14.99 per share (up 0.81 percent)
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