Comparação de desempenho econômico-financeiro das companhias do setor de saúde: antes, durante e pós-pandemia

Abstract

The past nine years have been marked by a significant economic downturn (2015-2016; 2020) and a health crisis, which together brought various challenges to the business environment in the country. Considering this turbulent environment, this research aimed to compare the economic and financial performance of healthcare sector companies listed on B3, considering three periods: pre-pandemic (2018-2019); during the pandemic (2020-2021); and post-pandemic (2022-2023). For the research development, quantitative, descriptive, and documentary research techniques were used, with a sample composed of fourteen companies. Data were obtained from the Refinitiv Platform® and analyzed using Wilcoxon, Kruskal-Wallis, and Spearman statistical tests. The results show that during the pandemic period, there was a reduction in short-term indebtedness; post-pandemic, there were reductions in net margin (NM), return on assets (ROA), and return on equity (ROE). When comparing (2018-2019) with (2022-2023), it is observed that profitability and return performances have not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Performance differences among the four segments comprising the healthcare sector increased during and after the pandemic. Profitability indices showed positive and significant relationships with the unemployment rate. As contributions, it is evident that there has not yet been a recovery in NM, ROA, and ROE at the level of the biennium preceding the pandemic, and it confirms that the healthcare sector segments presented different performances during and after the pandemic periods, as well as distinct significant relationships with the socio-economic environment