Ardent Health unveils $50 million stock buyback initiative
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Nov 18 2025
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Share Repurchase Program: Ardent's board has authorized a share repurchase program of up to $50 million.
Funding and Financial Position: The program will be funded from existing cash resources, with Ardent maintaining a strong liquidity position of $609 million in cash.
Strategic Growth Opportunities: The share repurchase does not hinder Ardent's ability to pursue strategic growth opportunities, including mergers and acquisitions.
Leverage Ratio: As of the end of Q3 2025, Ardent's lease-adjusted net leverage stands at 2.5x.
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Analyst Views on ARDT
Wall Street analysts forecast ARDT stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for ARDT is 13.73 USD with a low forecast of 10.00 USD and a high forecast of 17.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
13 Analyst Rating
8 Buy
4 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 8.240
Low
10.00
Averages
13.73
High
17.00
Current: 8.240
Low
10.00
Averages
13.73
High
17.00
About ARDT
Ardent Health, Inc., formerly Ardent Health Partners, Inc., is a provider of healthcare in mid-sized urban communities across the United States. Through its subsidiaries, the Company delivers care through a system of 30 acute care hospitals and approximately 280 sites of care with over 1,800 affiliated providers across six states. It provides both general and specialty services, including internal medicine, general surgery, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, women’s services, neurology, urology, and emergency services, within inpatient and ambulatory care settings. In addition to its 30 acute care hospitals, it operates a network of ambulatory facilities and telehealth services, including primary care and specialty care clinics, ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), urgent care centers, free-standing emergency departments, and diagnostic imaging centers. It operates a consumer-centric healthcare platform focused on creating relationships with its patients across multiple care settings.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Ardent Health Class Action Reminder for Investors
- Financial Decline: Ardent Health reported a $43 million revenue drop in Q3 2025, primarily due to negative revisions in the collectability of certain accounts receivable, leading to a 33.8% stock price drop to $9.30 per share on November 13, 2025, which severely impacted investor confidence.
- Lawsuit Context: The class action lawsuit alleges that Ardent made materially false and misleading statements during the Class Period from July 18, 2024, to November 12, 2025, failing to disclose the true management framework of its accounts receivable, resulting in significant investor losses.
- Increased Liability Reserves: The company reported a $54 million increase in professional liability reserves due to settlements and ongoing litigations in New Mexico, reflecting social inflationary pressures in the industry and exacerbating the company's financial challenges.
- Investor Action Deadline: Investors must file a lead plaintiff motion by March 9, 2026, to pursue claims for losses incurred due to the company's financial misconduct, highlighting the potential legal ramifications for the company's future operations.
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Ardent Health Faces Securities Class Action Lawsuit
- Lawsuit Background: Hagens Berman is investigating Ardent Health (NYSE: ARDT) for allegedly misleading investors about its revenue recognition systems, with a lead plaintiff deadline set for March 9, 2026, potentially exposing investors to significant losses.
- Financial Transparency Issues: Despite Ardent's claims of using 'detailed historical collections reviews' for receivables valuation, the company admitted in November 2025 that it actually employed a '180-day cliff' method, raising serious concerns about its financial health and practices.
- Massive Reserve Increase: The revelation of a $54 million increase in professional liability reserves in November 2025 led to a nearly 34% stock price crash, highlighting the company's vulnerability in managing legal claims and industry pressures.
- Significant Revenue Cut: Ardent's announcement in November 2025 of a $42.6 million revenue cut due to a change in accounting methods not only impacted its short-term financial performance but also risks undermining long-term investor confidence in the company's stability.
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