Tenet On Road to Recovery

OKLAHOMA CITY -- This could finally be Tenet's (THC Quote) comeback year.

The hospital operator has spent half a decade trying to recover from past scandals that hurt its performance in a brutal industry environment. But the company finally showed some encouraging signs of life in the third quarter that, if sustained, could signal a bona fide turnaround.

Tenet will offer its own prognosis when it issues formal guidance next month.

Wall Street analysts, in the meantime, have been dissecting Tenet's latest results in an effort to determine the company's future prospects. To be sure, most still lean toward the bear camp with tepid hold -- if not outright sell -- recommendations.

But a few have warmed up to the company, joining a habitual contrarian who has recommended the stock through multiple plunges over the course of the past year.

"I have a lot at stake," admits Sheryl Skolnick, senior vice president of CRT Capital Group. "If I'm wrong, that keeps me awake at night and makes me dig and dig and dig. I want to make sure that I know as much about this investment as anyone possibly can."

Right now, she adds, "I'm prepared to say that I made a mistake in terms of my timing but not in terms of the ultimate outcome" on the call.