Community Health Systems suffered a bloody nose this year with a botched $3 billion hostile takeover of Tenet Healthcare. The company made a $6 per share stock and cash offer late in 2010, but it was rebuffed by Tenet's directors.
CHS then made the offer all-cash in April a week after Tenet sued it for allegedly over-admitting patients to draw more money from Medicare.
The company raised its offer to $7.25 per share at the start of May, but Tenet held firm, and the deal died days later.
CHS would continue to make acquisitions of hospitals here and there, with net revenue for the year climbing 9.8% to $10.2 billion after the third quarter. Analysts vary in their opinions, but investors have shunned the stock as uncertainty about the health care space hit hospital operators hard. It's feared that owners may have to shoulder more of the burden of Medicare and Medicaid costs with planned reform.
It's been a hot and cold year for the stock market, but these Fortune 500 companies managed to float to the top with impressive gains. From Ross Stores to MasterCard, here are the biggest winners.
