April 24 (Reuters) - Universal Health Services ( UHS )

on Wednesday beat Wall Street estimates for first-quarter profit

aided by higher patient admissions, amid a resurgence in demand

for some non-urgent surgeries and easing staff shortages.

Shares of the company rose 2.5% to $170 in extended trading.

Hospital operators have been benefiting from a revival in

planned, non-urgent medical surgeries which were delayed during

the pandemic, especially from older adults, while increasing

medical costs for health insurers.

Universal Health Services ( UHS ), however, did not share any

commentary on net revenue forecast for 2024 in the earnings

release. Last quarter, it had forecast 2024 net revenue between

$15.41 billion and $15.71 billion.

Analysts expect 2024 net revenue of $15.52 billion,

according to LSEG data.

Same facility-adjusted admissions rose by 4.5% at the

company-run acute care hospitals during the reported quarter,

while it fell by 0.8% at its behavioral healthcare facilities.

Higher admissions, mainly in acute care hospitals, increased

the company's quarterly net revenue by 10.8% to $3.84 billion,

compared with analysts' estimate of $3.78 billion.

The Pennsylvania-based company reported an adjusted profit

of $3.70 per share for the quarter ended March 31, topping

analysts' estimate of $3.16 per share.

Larger rival HCA Healthcare ( HCA ), the biggest for-profit

hospital operator in the United States, is set to report

first-quarter results before markets open on Friday.