Ardent Health raises 2026 adjusted EBITDA guidance after third-quarter earnings beat

Revenue of $1.62bn came in slightly under the $1.63bn expected, but the board also added $25m to the share buyback.

Ardent Health has lifted the bottom of its 2026 profit outlook. It now expects adjusted EBITDA, a measure of operating profit, of $500m to $535m, against $485m to $535m before.

The top of the range is unchanged, and so is the revenue outlook of $6.4bn to $6.7bn. That narrows the profit view from below without changing what the company expects to sell. It looks like more confidence in profit than in faster sales.

The quarter fits that reading. Third-quarter earnings per share were $0.31 on a GAAP basis, $0.09 better than expected. Revenue of $1.62bn was slightly under the $1.63bn expected.

Dave Caspers, president and chief executive, said the quarter reflected disciplined execution and adjusted admissions growth of 2.9%. He said the IMPACT initiatives are on track for at least $70m in savings this year.

The board also authorised a $25m increase to the share repurchase programme. About $48m is now available under it.