UPDATE: J.P. Morgan Raises PT on LifePoint Hospitals on High EBITDA Upside Potential

In a report published Monday, J.P. Morgan analyst Justin Lake reiterated an Overweight rating on LifePoint Hospitals LPNT, and raised the price target from $46.00 to $55.00. In the report, Lake noted, “While the company has struggled recently due to lower volumes and increasing physician recruitment/employment costs, our reform analysis indicates LifePoint should enjoy the highest EBITDA upside potential from reform-based coverage expansion. A combination of the company's geographic footprint, coupled with the managed care negotiating leverage of a sole community provider heading into exchange pricing discussions, should enable LifePoint to capture outsized gains compared to peers, in our opinion.” LifePoint Hospitals closed on Friday at $47.68.