HCA Holdings Up 6% After Reporting Positive Earnings

Shares of HCA Holdings

are up more than 6% after the company reported positive earnings this morning. The company today announced financial and operating results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2011. HCA also today announced that its Board of Directors approved a special cash dividend of $2.00 per share to be paid to shareholders of record as of February 16, 2012 with a payment date of February 29, 2012. Key fourth quarter metrics (all percentage changes compare 4Q 2011 to 4Q 2010 unless noted): Revenues increased 8.5 percent to $7.769 billion Net income attributable to HCA Holdings, Inc. totaled $1.935 billion, or $4.25 per diluted share, which includes a pretax gain on the acquisition of a controlling interest in an equity investment (HealthONE) of $1.522 billion, or $3.13 per diluted share, and pretax gains on sales of facilities of $145 million, or $0.18 per diluted share