Netcare H1 2025 PPD up 1.1%, share buybacks continue

Netcare anticipates a 1.1% year-on-year increase in total paid patient days (PPD) for the first half of fiscal year 2025, with acute hospital PPD expected to rise by 1.5%. Acute occupancy has improved by 120 basis points to 63.2%. Revenue per PPD for acute hospitals has increased by 4.5% for the five months to February 2025. The group continues its share buyback program, acquiring 27.8 million ordinary shares between October 1, 2024, and March 27, 2025, at an average price of ZAR 1,321 cents per share. A total of 112.6 million shares, representing 7.8% of the total ordinary shares, have been bought back since the program's commencement in September 2023 at an average price of ZAR 1,250 cents per share. The company reaffirms its FY 2025 revenue growth guidance of 5.0% to 6.0% and PPD growth guidance of 0.8% to 1.3%. Alex Maditse was appointed Chairperson of Netcare in January 2025.