Community Health Systems Inc reports results on Wednesday 28 October, after the market closes. Revenue over the twelve months to Q2 2026 was $12.0 billion, which fell 5.3% on the year before.
Source: reported quarterly EPS and aggregated third-party estimates. Historical surprises are context, not a forecast.
View chart data
| Period | Reported EPS | Analysts' estimate |
|---|---|---|
| Sep '25 | $1.27 | −$0.28 |
| Dec '25 | $0.00 | −$0.20 |
| Mar '26 | −$0.48 | −$0.09 |
| Jun '26 | −$0.19 | −$0.10 |
What analysts expect
For the quarter, the analysts’ average EPS estimate is −$0.32, in a range from −$0.39 to −$0.23. The average revenue estimate for the quarter is $2.8 billion. Alongside that, the analysts’ average estimate for full-year EPS is −$1.17, which would be down 198.0% on last year (based on 8 analysts). Of the analysts’ recommendations, 2 are positive, 5 neutral and 3 negative.
Company guidance
In its latest earnings release, management set year ending December 31, 2026 Net loss per share - diluted guidance at −$1.25 to −$1.10. In its latest earnings release, management set year ending December 31, 2026 Net operating revenues guidance at $11.4 billion to $11.6 billion.
Earnings surprise model
The model estimates EPS could land above the analysts’ average estimate by 4.2%. Its estimated chance of an EPS beat is 50.0%, based on the last 4 quarters. The model shrinks the median recent surprise toward zero and uses a neutral prior for beat frequency; this small sample is a reference estimate, not company guidance.
Track record against estimates
The company reported EPS above the analysts’ average estimate in 2 of the last 4 quarters. Last quarter, EPS of −$0.19 compared with an estimate of −$0.10, below it by 83.4%.
The trends going in
That growth rate was down 2.4 percentage points on the rate a quarter earlier. The trailing gross margin was 85.4%. The trailing operating margin was 11.4%, up 4.5 percentage points from a year earlier. The trailing net margin was 2.1%. Net income over the twelve months was $252.0 million, which fell 95.9% on the year before.
Where the cash went
Spending is outrunning the cash the business brings in, so less is left over. Operating cash flow over the twelve months was $126.0 million, down 74.3% on the year before. Capital spending was $311.0 million, or 2.6% of revenue. Meanwhile, free cash flow, operating cash flow less capital spending, was −$185.0 million. Free cash flow was −1.5% of revenue (the free-cash-flow margin), down 2.6 percentage points from a year earlier. The average diluted share count rose 2.0% over the year.
In context
Measured against its own history: today’s free-cash-flow margin of −1.5% is higher than 35% of the company’s own past quarterly readings, which have ranged from −5.7% to 15.6%. Today’s operating margin of 11.4% is higher than 88% of past readings (−13.3% to 12.1%). Today’s twelve-month revenue growth rate of −5.3% is higher than 23% of past readings (−11.1% to 5.9%).
Questions this report will answer
Whether the slowdown in revenue growth continues. Whether results land above or below the analysts’ expectations set out above. Alongside that, Whether margins hold at the trailing levels above. The next filing will show whether the trends above continue, slow or reverse.
