Chemed (CHE) Q2 2026 Earnings Beat: EPS of $6.06 Tops Estimates by 8%
As seen on the 24/7 Wall St. homepage on July 28, 2026.
Chemed crushed second-quarter earnings with a $6.06 EPS beat as VITAS hospice revenue jumped 11.9% on a dramatic shrink in Medicare Cap charges to $0.5 million from $16.4 million year ago, prompting the company to raise full-year guidance to $25.00-$25.75 EPS from $24.00-$24.75.
Continue ReadingShow less
Chemed reported second-quarter 2026 earnings per share of $6.06, clearing the $5.60 consensus estimate by roughly 8%. Revenue also came in ahead of expectations at $673.3 million versus the $665.0 million estimate, a beat of about 1.2%. The results continue a pattern of modest beats for the Cincinnati-based company, which had topped estimates in Q4 2024, Q1 2025, and Q1 2026, while falling short in Q2 and Q3 of last year.
The standout driver this quarter was the VITAS hospice segment, where revenue jumped 11.9%. A major tailwind came from a sharp drop in Medicare Cap charges — the liability that kicks in when a hospice provider bills Medicare beyond a set threshold per patient. Those charges fell to just $0.5 million from $16.4 million in the same quarter a year ago, a swing that materially freed up earnings.
Sponsored
Are You Ready To Retire, Or Years Behind?
Most Americans suspect they're behind on retirement and never find out. Advisor.com's free matching tool pairs you in about three minutes with a vetted fiduciary advisor who can help you with investing, taxes, retirement, estate planning, and more. No minimums. No sales call. Find out where you stand.
The strong quarter gave management enough confidence to raise full-year 2026 EPS guidance to a range of $25.00 to $25.75, up from the prior outlook of $24.00 to $24.75. Investors will want to watch whether the Medicare Cap relief proves durable in the back half of the year or whether charges begin to normalize as patient census trends evolve.
Mentioned: CHE