Shares of Community Health Systems (NYSE:CYH) plummeted over 7% in after-hours trading on Tuesday, following the release of the company's third-quarter 2024 financial results. The hospital operator reported an adjusted loss per share of $0.30, widely missing analysts' consensus estimate of a $0.18 loss.

While Community Health's quarterly revenue of $3.09 billion slightly beat expectations, investors appeared to focus on the larger-than-expected earnings miss. Typically, missing earnings forecasts is viewed negatively by the market, as it can signal underlying operational challenges or rising costs that are weighing on profitability.

Community Health did not provide specific details on the factors contributing to the earnings miss in its initial release. However, the company may have faced headwinds such as higher labor costs, supply chain disruptions, or weaker patient volumes, which are common challenges faced by hospital operators in the current economic environment.