Investment analysts at Stifel Nicolaus assumed coverage on shares of Kindred Healthcare (NYSE: KND) in a note issued to investors on Tuesday. The firm set a “hold” rating on the stock.
The analysts wrote, “Our Hold rating reflects our view that while the current reimbursement environment is stable, we believe investors are concerned about the impact of deficit reduction and entitlement reform initiatives on Medicare providers,particularly because tax increases and benefit cuts appear to be off the table. We expect Kindred to deliver improving results for the remainder of the year, but see Medicare uncertainty in 2013 clouding the shares’ outlook.”
Shares of Kindred Healthcare traded up 0.49% during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $8.21. Kindred Healthcare has a 52 week low of $7.60 and a 52 week high of $23.98. The company’s market cap is $434.3 million.
Kindred Healthcare last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 1st. The company reported $0.40 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.38 by $0.02. Kindred Healthcare’s revenue was up 32.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts predict that Kindred Healthcare will post $0.27 earnings per share next quarter.
A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on KND. Analysts at Avondale Partners upgraded shares of Kindred Healthcare to an “outperform” rating in a research note to investors on Wednesday, April 25th. Separately, analysts at Jefferies Group (NYSE: JEF) upgraded shares of Kindred Healthcare from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note to investors on Wednesday, April 25th. Finally, analysts at Susquehanna downgraded shares of Kindred Healthcare from a “positive” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research note to investors on Friday, March 30th.
Kindred Healthcare, Inc. (Kindred) is a healthcare services company that through its subsidiaries operates hospitals, nursing and rehabilitation centers and a contract rehabilitation services business across the United States.
