** Shares of HCA Healthcare HCA.N were down about 3% late on Thurs, with the hospital operator seen reporting an increase in qtrly rev and EPS when it reports results before the bell on Fri

** The S&P 500 healthcare index .SPXHC was down 0.4% on Thurs

** Analysts expect Q2 rev of $18.5 bln vs $17.49 bln a yr ago and EPS of $6.25/shr vs $5.53 a yr ago, according to LSEG

** The median 12-mo PT is $402; The stock was last at $342.46

** In April, HCA Healthcare beat Wall Street estimates for Q1 profit as it was helped by demand for elective procedures in the U.S.

** Hospital operator shares fell in June when a White House memo directed health secretary to "eliminate waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid" and mentioned State Directed Payments $(SDP.UK)$ to ensure "Medicaid payment rates are not higher than Medicare"

** Analyst recommendations on HCA include 16 "strong buy" or "buy" ratings and 11 "hold" ratings

** HCA is up ~14% for the YTD compared with a roughly 8% gain the S&P 500 .SPX in that period

(Reporting by Caroline Valetkevitch)

((caroline.valetkevitch@thomsonreuters.com))