Covista Inc.

Covista, America's largest healthcare educator, released the Covista Healthcare Workforce Index on September 28, 2026, projecting that the U.S. healthcare workforce shortage will nearly double by 2040 without action. The Index, built on a model by Oliver Wyman drawing on more than 60 data sets, estimates that pairing workforce investment with care delivery innovation could close 92% of the projected 2040 gap, with supply actions alone closing over half. Closing the nursing shortage alone could save nearly 100,000 lives cumulatively by 2040, while closing the physician gap could add more than six months to average life expectancy and cut specialist wait times by 20%. Unfilled healthcare positions already cost the average U.S. family about $430 a year, a figure the model projects could nearly triple to $1,250 by 2040, with rural and underserved communities bearing the heaviest burden. The Index estimates AI could close up to 37% of the 2040 gap but offset much of that gain by an estimated 18% through newly surfaced unmet need, while GLP-1s and CAR-T cell therapy could shrink the gap by a further 21% and care model redesign by another 13%.

Covista shares surged 13.3% after the vocational education company reported second-quarter 2026 revenue and adjusted earnings that exceeded Wall Street estimates and issued full-year adjusted earnings guidance above consensus. Revenue rose 9.7% to $501.4 million, while adjusted EPS of $2.09 beat forecasts by about 10%, and operating margin expanded to 19% from 16.8%. Management's decision to guide full-year adjusted earnings above Street expectations signaled the beat was not borrowed from later quarters, supporting higher targets. The stock closed at $140.91, up 13.5% from the previous close.

Covista reported second-quarter CY2026 revenue of $501.4 million, beating analyst estimates of $486.5 million and growing 9.7% year on year. Adjusted earnings per share came in at $2.09, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.89 by 10.4%, while adjusted EBITDA of $126.9 million also topped forecasts. The company issued full-year revenue guidance of approximately $2.07 billion, in line with analyst expectations, and provided adjusted EPS guidance for fiscal 2027 of $9.03 at the midpoint, slightly above estimates. Operating margin improved to 19% from 16.8% a year earlier, and free cash flow margin rose to 19.4% from 8.9%.

Consumer discretionary education services stocks reported strong first-quarter results, with aggregate revenues beating analyst consensus estimates by 1.9%. Bright Horizons posted revenue of $712.2 million, up 7% year on year and in line with expectations, but its stock fell 14% after reporting. Lincoln Educational led the group with revenue of $144 million, a 22.5% increase that beat estimates by 5.7%, and its stock rose 15.1%. Strategic Education was the weakest performer, with flat revenue of $305.9 million missing estimates by 1.2%, and its stock declined 5.7%. Laureate Education and Covista also beat revenue expectations, with shares up 20.7% and 8.9% respectively.

Covista and Advocate Health have launched a strategic collaboration to expand nursing education access and build a direct pipeline of practice-ready nurses. Delivered through Chamberlain University, the program offers scholarships toward a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, clinical immersion within Advocate Health facilities, and loan repayment support during employment. The initiative establishes a specialized Acute and Progressive Care nursing pathway, with recruiting expected to begin next month for classes starting in September, and is designed to serve hundreds of students each year. Advocate Health is the third-largest nonprofit integrated health system in the U.S., while Covista is America's largest healthcare educator, serving more than 100,000 students.