12 health systems with strong finances

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/12-health-systems-with-strong-finances-031219.html

 

Here are 12 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions, according to recent reports from Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.

1. Dallas-based Baylor Scott & White Health has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The health system has strong cash flow margins, and its favorable demographics will contribute to volume and revenue growth, according to Moody’s.

2. Newark, Del.-based Christiana Care has an “Aa2” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The health system has solid margins and a robust balance sheet, according to Moody’s.

3. Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System has an “Aa2” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The health system is a leading provider of tertiary and quaternary services and has solid margins and cash levels, according to Moody’s.

4. Chicago-based Northwestern Memorial HealthCarehas an “Aa2” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. Moody’s expects that the health system’s operating model and comprehensive IT systems will enable it to execute growth strategies while maintaining strong margins.

5. Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The credit rating agency expects Novant to continue generating strong cash flow margins in favorable markets.

6. Boston-based Partners HealthCare has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s and an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with S&P. The health system has an excellent reputation in the clinical and research spaces, a long track record of fundraising, and adequate balance sheet measures, according to Moody’s.

7. St. Louis-based SSM Health Care has an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with Fitch. SSM has a strong financial profile, and Fitch expects the system to continue growing unrestricted liquidity and to maintain improved operational performance.

8. Appleton, Wis.-based ThedaCare has an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with Fitch. The health system has a leading market share in a stable service area and strong operating performance, according to Fitch.

9. Cincinnati-based TriHealth has an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with Fitch. Fitch expects the health system to maintain good operating ratios, leading to liquidity growth.

10. Iowa City-based University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics has an “Aa2” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The system’s strong brand and position as the only academic medical center in Iowa will continue to translate into strong market share and high patient demand, according to Moody’s.

11. York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health has an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with Fitch. The health system has a leading market position in south-central Pennsylvania and a strong financial profile, according to Fitch.

12. Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The health system has a leading market position in Connecticut, with a broad reach for tertiary and quaternary patients from throughout the state, and strong brand recognition, according to Moody’s.

 

 

Fitch: Rating downgrades will likely outweigh upgrades for US healthcare companies in 2018

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/fitch-rating-downgrades-will-likely-outweigh-upgrades-for-us-healthcare-companies-in-2018.html

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US healthcare companies will likely see more credit rating downgrades than upgrades in 2018, according to Fitch Ratings.

Fitch attributes the increased pressure on industry credit ratings to the uncertain future of the ACA, a changing tax plan, the adoption of alternative payment models and the potential for outsider disruption, which includes Amazon’s entrance into healthcare and advancements in technology.

Further, Fitch explains that technology is increasingly moving patients away from hospitals and enabling decentralization — thus reshaping the healthcare landscape. Due to this changing landscape, the healthcare industry is, “facing secular challenges to pricing power and profitability and these forces are expected to influence certain segments more than others in 2018,” Fitch notes.

However, despite the higher potential for credit downgrades, the US healthcare sector outlook is stable for 2018 due to sheer demand for services, an overall favorable liquidity profile, and generally consistent leverage and debt coverage.

 

Moody’s assigns ‘Aa3’ to University of Pennsylvania Health System

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/moody-s-assigns-aa3-to-university-of-pennsylvania-health-system.html

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Moody’s Investors Service assigned its “Aa3” rating to Philadelphia-based University of Pennsylvania Health System’s proposed $200 million series 2017 taxable bonds as well as its proposed $400 million series A of 2017 revenue bonds.

At the same time, Moody’s affirmed the “Aa3” rating on UPHS’ outstanding bonds.

The affirmation is a result of several factors, including the health system’s strong market position, favorable reputation, close affiliation with the University of Pennsylvania and healthy liquidity. Moody’s also acknowledged UPHS’ limited debt burden and effective management of capital spending.

The outlook is stable, reflecting Moody’s expectation that UPHS will maintain solid operating margins to absorb some of the decline in liquidity as construction projects progress.

Moody’s: Shareholder pressure may lead Tenet to make drastic changes

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/moody-s-shareholder-pressure-may-lead-tenet-to-make-drastic-changes.html

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Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare has sufficient liquidity and plenty of flexibility from a debt covenant perspective to give the company time to improve its operations or change its strategic direction before it needs to undertake material refinancing, according to a Moody’s Investors Service report.

While Tenet’s leverage is high, its next maturity is $500 million in March 2019. “We believe Tenet can repay this with a combination of cash, which will be increasing due to proceeds from anticipated asset sales, and use of its $1 billion revolving credit facility,” said Moody’s.

The company has no amortizing debt requiring periodic payments, and its bond indentures include no financial maintenance covenants or debt incurrence covenants, according to Moody’s.

Moody’s also noted Tenet’s earnings have longer-term growth potential. Although Tenet’s facilities are generally located in highly competitive urban areas, these areas have growing populations. Across all service areas, Moody’s views Tenet’s ambulatory surgery center business as having higher growth prospects than its acute care hospitals.

Despite financial flexibility, Tenet is facing increasing shareholder pressure, which Moody’s said may lead the company to take more drastic measures, such as larger asset sales or even the sale of the entire company.

Fitch affirms ‘A+’ rating on PeaceHealth’s revenue bonds

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/fitch-affirms-a-rating-on-peacehealth-s-revenue-bonds.html

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Fitch Ratings affirmed its “A+” rating on Vancouver, Wash.-based PeaceHealth’s outstanding debt, affecting a total of $477 million of debt.

The affirmation is a result of several factors, including PeaceHealth’s strong market position, geographic diversity, favorable liquidity metrics and improved debt service coverage. Fitch also acknowledged the health system’s upcoming capital spending and recovering operating performance following an EMR implementation.

The outlook is stable.

Moody’s assigns ‘A3’ rating to Tower Health’s bonds

https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/moody-s-assigns-a3-rating-to-tower-health-s-bonds.html

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Moody’s Investors Service assigned its “A3” rating to West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health’s proposed $584 million series 2017 bonds.

Additionally, Moody’s downgraded Tower Health’s outstanding ratings to “A3” from “A2.”

The assignment is a result of several factors, including Tower Health’s solid market position, historically healthy operating performance and favorable absolute liquidity metrics. Moody’s also acknowledged the increased risk associated with the health system’s recent purchase of five hospitals, which resulted in the downgrade of Tower Health’s outstanding ratings.

The outlook is revised to negative from stable, reflecting the increased risk of integrating five formerly for-profit hospitals into the nonprofit health network.