Hapvida jumps 4% on potential 1.5 billion real asset deal

Shares of Brazilian healthcare operator Hapvida rose 4% to 7.25 Brazilian reais on Friday, leading gains on the Ibovespa index. The move followed a report by investment bank Jefferies highlighting potential balance sheet improvements.

According to reporting cited from Bloomberg, Hapvida hired banks to structure a sale-leaseback transaction of up to 1.5 billion Brazilian reais involving part of its hospital portfolio. Jefferies analyst Antonio Pedro Cardoso wrote that this initiative could serve as a catalyst to boost liquidity and speed up capital structure recovery without disrupting operations.

Cardoso stated that structuring a sale-leaseback would unlock the financial value embedded in owned properties, directing proceeds toward debt amortization. Jefferies noted that combining strategic asset sales with active liability management supports a gradual rebuild of credibility and cash flow expansion over upcoming quarters.

Jefferies maintained a buy rating on Hapvida with a price target of 19 Brazilian reais, representing potential upside of 172.6% over the prior day's close.