Feb 26 (Reuters) - Hospital operator Universal Health

Services ( UHS ) beat fourth-quarter profit estimates on

Wednesday, driven by robust demand for medical care that

required hospital stays.

Shares of the company were up 3.8%, at $187, in

after-hours trading.

Hospital operators have been benefiting from an uptick in

demand for medical care, as older adults catch up on surgeries

delayed during the pandemic.

Same facility adjusted admissions increased by 2.2% at acute

care hospitals in the fourth quarter, while same facility

adjusted admissions grew by 2% at behavioral health care

facilities.

On an adjusted basis, the company reported a profit of $4.92

per share for the quarter ended December 31, beating analysts'

estimates of $4.18 per share, according to data compiled by

LSEG.

The Pennsylvania-based company forecast its annual revenue

to be in the range of $17.02 billion to $17.36 billion, above

estimates of $16.72 billion.

Larger peer HCA Healthcare ( HCA ) also forecast 2025 profit

above estimates due to elevated demand for medical procedures

and lower costs.

Universal Health Services ( UHS ) operates 28 inpatient acute care

hospitals, 331 inpatient behavioral health facilities and other

facilities across 39 states.