UPDATE: Morgan Stanley Initiates LifePoint Hospitals at Equal-Weight on Risk/Reward

Morgan Stanley initiated LifePoint Hospitals

with an Equal-weight rating. Morgan Stanley commented, "LifePoint is the purest play on the rural market. Therefore, we think LPNT will be able to maintain better commercial pricing including in the exchanges. However, LPNT is experiencing weaker utilization statistics with a slower rebound. Lowest financial leverage will decrease opportunity on the upside if multiples expand but will help finance strong acquisition pipeline." LifePoint Hospitals closed at $41.68 on Wednesday.