New York, February 4, 2026, 15:33 ET — Regular session
Shares of DaVita Inc (DVA) climbed roughly 6.5%, closing near $143.45 Wednesday afternoon. The stock had fluctuated between $134.15 and $147.61 during the session.
The stock’s jump shines a spotlight on whether the dialysis provider can translate its upbeat profit forecast into consistent growth, rather than a single-quarter spike. Buybacks and refinancing boost earnings per share, but only if volumes hold steady and costs stay in check.
Late Monday, DaVita forecast adjusted earnings per share (EPS) for 2026 between $13.60 and $15.00, beating the consensus estimate of $12.65. Shares surged roughly 16% in after-hours trading. CFO Joel Ackerman told analysts that the end of Affordable Care Act subsidies will hit earnings by $40 million next year, partly offset by avoiding $45 million in cyber-related expenses from 2025. The company is still managing the fallout from an April ransomware attack that compromised data on 2.7 million individuals.
DaVita reported $3.620 billion in revenue and an adjusted diluted EPS of $3.40 for the quarter ending Dec. 31. For 2026, it projects adjusted EPS between $13.60 and $15.00, adjusted operating income ranging from $2.085 billion to $2.235 billion, and free cash flow of $1.0 billion to $1.25 billion. The company repurchased 12.7 million shares in 2025 and averaged roughly 91,608 U.S. dialysis treatments daily during the quarter. “Our strong platform delivered once again in 2025,” CEO Javier Rodriguez said. Newsroom
Barclays lifted its price target to $158 from $143 but maintained an Equal Weight rating following the report. The firm highlighted a 2026 outlook that surpassed expectations, fueled by ongoing share buybacks, the end of Mozarc losses, and reduced debt thanks to refinancing, according to a note cited by TheFly.
UBS raised its price target to $190 from $186 on Wednesday and stuck with a Buy rating, citing the stock’s roughly 27% surge over the past week. The bank noted DaVita’s guidance suggests about 33% growth in adjusted EPS at the midpoint, but highlighted that this comparison is skewed by unusual 2025 items, including the now-ended losses from the Mozarc joint venture. Management called the $14.30 midpoint a “high quality” baseline for modeling beyond 2026, UBS said. Investing.com UK
DaVita and Ares Management are backing Elara Caring, a home health and hospice provider, with a plan to launch a kidney-focused, home-based care model designed to reduce preventable hospital visits and cut overall costs. Elara operates in 18 states, serving around 60,000 patients daily across 200 locations, Investing.com reported. “We’re excited to partner with the Elara team and support their next phase of growth and innovation,” said Ares partner Kevin Cox. Investing.com
Dialysis and healthcare stocks showed strength: Fresenius Medical Care’s U.S.-listed shares climbed roughly 4%, Baxter International added around 5%, and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR ETF gained close to 1.7%. By contrast, the broader S&P 500 ETF SPY dipped about 0.3%.
Volume remains the key pressure point. Should patient starts falter or payers resist reimbursement, reaching that 2026 EPS range leans more heavily on buybacks and cost controls, causing the stock to swing sharply.
Setting aside company news, traders are adjusting to a revamped U.S. data schedule following the brief government shutdown. The Labor Department announced the January jobs report will drop Wednesday, Feb. 11, while January’s CPI is set for Friday, Feb. 13. December’s JOLTS figures come out Thursday.
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