Benchmark has raised its price objective on Healthcare Services Group (NASDAQ: HCSG) to $28.00, up from $24.00, while keeping a Buy rating on the stock. At the time of the update, the company traded around $21.11, which InvestingPro data characterizes as slightly undervalued relative to its Fair Value and indicative of potential upside.
The upgraded target follows a sharp intraday move for HCSG shares on February 11, when the stock climbed roughly 16% on volume approximately five times its normal level. Benchmark attributes the surge to several company-specific factors, most notably a substantial quarterly earnings beat and signs of a healthier skilled nursing facility client base - evidence that Benchmark tied to low bad debt levels and robust cash flow.
Market data from InvestingPro underscores recent momentum: the stock returned 14.37% over the prior week and delivered a 108.03% gain over the preceding 12 months.
On guidance and near-term expectations, Healthcare Services Group provided fiscal year 2026 guidance that Benchmark described as "an acceptable baseline to exceed." The analyst note points out that the company had already outperformed its fiscal year 2025 outlook. Consensus analyst projections cited in the coverage show an expected EPS of $1.02 for FY2026 and revenue growth of about 5% for the year.
Benchmark called out several macro and demand-side tailwinds supporting HCSG's outlook. Those include a rebound of skilled nursing facility occupancy back to pre-COVID levels, improved financial condition among client facilities, and a net positive effect from Medicaid. These factors, Benchmark argues, underpin the companys recent operating leverage and margin performance.
Balance-sheet strength is a highlighted element of the firms thesis. Healthcare Services Group reported a net cash balance of $204 million, and InvestingPro notes the company holds more cash than debt, with total debt of $9.66 million and a current ratio of 3.38. That liquidity position, Benchmark said, positions HCSG to pursue targeted mergers and acquisitions, most likely in its Campus Services division, which serves the K-12 school market.
Alongside potential M&A, HCSG announced a $75 million share repurchase program for 2026, following $61.6 million in buybacks completed during the prior year. The company does not currently pay a dividend, opting to prioritize growth investments and buybacks instead.
Benchmarks revised $28 price target implies a 2026 EV/EBITDA multiple of 16.1x. The firm noted this multiple sits more than four turns below the peer-group median, a gap it expects to narrow as HCSGs return on invested capital improves from the 14.3% achieved in fiscal 2025. By contrast, InvestingPro data shows the company currently trading at an EV/EBITDA of 23.38x, based on last twelve months EBITDA of $57.35 million.
Earlier company results contributed directly to the bullish sentiment. Healthcare Services Group reported fourth-quarter 2025 earnings that materially outpaced expectations. The company posted EPS of $0.44, double the consensus forecast of $0.22. Revenue for the quarter was $466.7 million, slightly missing the forecasted $467.23 million.
Despite the modest revenue shortfall, the strong earnings performance and margin dynamics prompted additional analyst responses. BMO Capital raised its price target on HCSG to $22.00 from $20.00 while maintaining a Market Perform rating. BMO highlighted that fourth-quarter adjusted EBITDA exceeded consensus by 22%, attributing the outperformance to better-than-expected gross margins across both of HCSGs business segments.
Taken together, the analyst moves, the companys cash-heavy balance sheet, the announced repurchase program and the positive quarterly earnings surprise form the basis for the current positive market narrative around HCSG. Investors tracking healthcare services, education-focused facilities services through the Campus Services business, and the small-cap services cohort may view these developments as material when assessing relative value and capital allocation priorities.
Key metrics and projections referenced in this report:
- Benchmark price target: $28.00 (previously $24.00) with Buy rating
- Current market price cited: $21.11
- Fiscal 2026 consensus EPS: $1.02; revenue growth: 5%
- Net cash position: $204 million; total debt: $9.66 million; current ratio: 3.38
- Last twelve months EBITDA: $57.35 million; EV/EBITDA (InvestingPro): 23.38x
What remains uncertain
- How rapidly HCSG can convert the acceptable baseline FY2026 guidance into upside relative to consensus.
- The timing, scale and strategic focus of any targeted M&A in the Campus Services division, given the optionality afforded by the net cash balance.
- Whether revenue trends will consistently translate into margin expansion, given the small revenue shortfall in the most recent quarter despite strong EPS and adjusted EBITDA performance.