** Shares of hospital operator Ardent Health ARDT.N rise 2.7% to $8.5 premarket

** ARDT announces share buyback worth $50 million

** Says co had $609 million of cash as of end of Q3

** ARDT reported surprise quarterly loss last week, sending its shares down 32%

** Stock closed at record low on Monday

** Eight of 13 brokerages rate stock "buy" or higher, four "hold" and one "sell"; their median PT is $16 - LSEG data

** ARDT down 51.5% YTD vs 11% gain for NYSE composite index .NYA

(Reporting by Utkarsh Tushar Hathi)

((utkarshtushar.hathi@thomsonreuters.com))