Castle Connolly released its 2026 Top Hospitals list on March 4, 2026, recognizing 1,663 hospitals for overall excellence and strong performance across six specialties and 19 procedures.
Thirty-eight hospitals earned Gold Standard Top Hospitals status, placing them among the top 1% nationwide. The methodology combines recent all‑payor outcomes data with Castle Connolly's Top Doctors evaluations.
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News Market Reaction – ZD
+3.62%
1 alert
+3.62%Session close to close
$1.50BMarket Cap
0.1xRel. Volume
In the Mar 4 session, ZD gained 3.62%, reflecting a moderate positive market reaction.
This announcement highlights Castle Connolly’s 2026 Top Hospitals list, recognizing 1,663 institutio...
Analysis
This announcement highlights Castle Connolly’s 2026 Top Hospitals list, recognizing 1,663 institutions and a select group of 38 Gold Standard hospitals representing the top 1%. It underscores a data-driven approach that blends all-payor outcomes with physician evaluations across 6 specialties and 19 procedures. In the broader ZD context, investors may compare this kind of brand and data asset exposure with recent strategic moves, regulatory filings, and evolving portfolio composition when assessing long-term positioning.
Key Figures
Top Hospitals total:1,663 hospitalsGold Standard hospitals:38 hospitalsHospital share:top 1%+4 more
7 metrics
Top Hospitals total1,663 hospitalsRecognized for overall excellence and specialties in 2026 list
Gold Standard hospitals38 hospitalsHighest overall performers nationwide in 2026 rankings
Hospital sharetop 1%Gold Standard hospitals’ position among all hospitals
Specialties covered6 specialtiesScope of Castle Connolly Top Hospitals methodology
Procedures covered19 proceduresScope of Castle Connolly Top Hospitals methodology
Castle Connolly track record35 yearsLegacy of identifying Top Doctors before Top Hospitals program
Consumer influencenearly 60%Consumers indicating hospital rankings influence care choices
Announcement of timing for Q4 and year-end 2025 earnings release and call.
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Pattern Detected
Recent news has produced mixed reactions: strategic and product updates sometimes aligned with sharp moves, while operational highlights saw muted or even negative responses.
Recent Company History
Over the last several weeks, ZD has reported FY 2025 revenue of $1.45B with flat Adjusted EBITDA and deferred 2026 guidance, which coincided with a -10.29% move. Product and performance updates from RetailMeNot and Fidium delivered modest and mixed price reactions of +1.24% and -2.06%. The definitive agreement to sell the Connectivity division for $1.2B in cash then preceded a sharp 48.09% move. Today’s Castle Connolly hospital-ranking news sits against this backdrop of portfolio reshaping and selective investor enthusiasm.
Key Terms
abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, hysterectomy, hip replacement surgery, +1 more
Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair is a surgical procedure that fixes a dangerous bulge in the main artery carrying blood from the heart through the belly, either by replacing the weak section with a graft or reinforcing it with a tube-like implant placed through small incisions. Investors care because it drives demand for surgical implants, devices and hospital services, and outcomes, procedure volume and reimbursement rules can materially affect revenue and growth for medical device makers, hospitals and insurers.
coronary artery bypass graft surgerymedical
"Carotid Artery SurgeryCoronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery (CABG)Heart Valve"
A surgical procedure in which a surgeon creates a new pathway for blood to reach the heart by using a healthy blood vessel from elsewhere in the body to bypass a blocked coronary artery—think of it like building a detour around a closed road so traffic (blood) can flow again. It matters to investors because the frequency, cost, recovery time and outcomes of the operation affect hospital and device-maker revenues, demand for related drugs and follow-up care, and can influence long-term healthcare spending and insurer liabilities.
A hysterectomy is a surgical procedure that removes a person’s uterus, sometimes along with nearby reproductive organs, to treat conditions like heavy bleeding, pain, or cancer. For investors, it matters because the number and type of these surgeries influence demand for hospital services, surgical devices, medical supplies, and related drug treatments, similar to how replacing a worn machine part changes ongoing maintenance and supply needs for a factory.
Hip replacement surgery is a medical operation that removes a damaged hip joint and fits an artificial implant so the joint can move smoothly again—like swapping a worn bearing in a machine. Investors track it because procedure volume, device sales, hospital costs, and insurance reimbursement affect makers of implants, hospitals and insurers, and can signal demand for related medical services and long-term healthcare spending.
Knee replacement surgery is an operation that removes damaged parts of a knee joint and fits an artificial joint so the knee can move more smoothly, similar to swapping out worn components in a machine. Investors care because the procedure drives demand for medical devices, hospital services and rehabilitation care, affects healthcare costs and insurance payouts, and can influence the revenue and growth prospects of companies in medical devices, hospitals and insurers.
Castle Connolly's Top Hospitals recognition takes a modern approach to identifying healthcare excellence, reflecting how patients receive care today.
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK / ACCESS Newswire / March 4, 2026 / Castle Connolly today announced the release of Castle Connolly's 2026 Top Hospitals, recognizing the nation's leading healthcare institutions. The list recognizes 1,663 Top Hospitals for their overall excellence and strong performance in six specialties and nineteen procedures.
Castle Connolly Gold Standard Top Hospitals represent the highest overall performers nationwide, with 38 hospitals earning this distinction - placing them among the top 1% of hospitals.
Built on Castle Connolly's 35 year legacy of identifying Top Doctors, Top Hospitals expands that trusted expertise to the hospital level to recognize institutions delivering the highest-quality procedural care in today's evolving healthcare landscape.
The Top Hospitals methodology is built on a comprehensive, outcomes-driven foundation. By integrating recent, all-payor outcomes data with Castle Connolly's rigorous Top Doctors evaluations which center on clinical expertise, the program provides a clear, data-informed view of where high-quality care is being delivered today.
"Evaluating care across all ages and all payors gives us a broader, more current picture than other hospital rankings - showing not just what hospitals do for seniors, but for everyone who depends on them." says Dr. Russell Robbins, MD, MBA, Senior Medical Consultant, Castle Connolly
Castle Connolly recognizes hospitals across six specialties and nineteen procedures, at a national, state and metro level. Including:
As healthcare systems grow in size and complexity, patients and providers alike are seeking transparent, data-driven information on hospital quality. Recent research by Castle Connolly shows that nearly 60% of consumers indicate that hospital rankings influence their choice of care - highlighting the growing importance of trusted, accessible quality measures.
"Our goal is to make complex healthcare decisions easier for patients and their healthcare providers. By combining current outcomes data with the vetted expertise of Top Doctors, we highlight hospitals that truly excel in specific procedures, supporting patients in their most critical healthcare decisions." Steve Leibforth, Managing Director Castle Connolly
About Castle Connolly
With over 35 years' experience researching, reviewing and selecting Top Doctors, Castle Connolly is a highly trusted and credible source. A study published in the Journal of Medical Research found that across several specialties evidence indicates that Castle Connolly's peer-reviewed directory is methodologically more reliable than sites that just relied on patient reviews when it came to identifying quality care. Our mission is to help people find the best healthcare by connecting patients with best-in-class healthcare providers. For more information, visit https://www.castleconnolly.com.
About the Everyday Health Group
The Everyday Health Group is a leading Pharma Commercialization, Digital Health & Wellness, and Provider Solutions Company for Life Sciences, Hospitals and Health Systems, Health Care Providers (HCPs), and health-seeking Consumers. Our mission is to drive better clinical and health outcomes through decision-making informed by highly relevant information, data and analytics. We empower healthcare providers and consumers with trusted content and services delivered through the Everyday Health Group's world-class brands.
Everyday Health Group is a division of Ziff Davis. (NASDAQ:ZD).
What did Castle Connolly announce on March 4, 2026 about Top Hospitals and how does it affect ZD investors?
Castle Connolly released its 2026 Top Hospitals list recognizing 1,663 hospitals and 38 Gold Standard winners. According to Castle Connolly, the list uses outcomes and Top Doctors evaluations, offering patients and providers clearer data on hospital procedural quality.
How many hospitals made the Castle Connolly 2026 Top Hospitals list and which are Gold Standard winners (ZD relevance)?
The 2026 list includes 1,663 Top Hospitals, with 38 Gold Standard hospitals in the top 1% nationwide. According to Castle Connolly, Gold Standard denotes the highest overall performers across specialties and procedures.
Which specialties and procedures are included in Castle Connolly's 2026 Top Hospitals list and why should ZD stakeholders care?
The list covers six specialties and 19 procedures, including cancer, heart, orthopaedic, urologic, and obstetrics surgeries. According to Castle Connolly, this breadth helps patients identify high‑quality procedural care across common and complex treatments.
What methodology did Castle Connolly use for the 2026 Top Hospitals rankings and how reliable is it for ZD analysis?
Castle Connolly combines recent all‑payor outcomes data with its Top Doctors evaluations to create an outcomes‑driven ranking. According to Castle Connolly, this integration yields a data‑informed view of where high‑quality care is delivered today.
What does Gold Standard Top Hospitals mean and which hospitals achieved it in 2026 (ZD investor context)?
Gold Standard Top Hospitals denotes hospitals in the top 1% of performance; 38 hospitals earned this distinction in 2026. According to Castle Connolly, Gold Standard identifies the highest overall performers nationwide across measured specialties and procedures.
How might Castle Connolly's 2026 Top Hospitals list influence patient choice and referral patterns relevant to ZD stakeholders?
Castle Connolly reports nearly 60% of consumers say hospital rankings influence their care choice, potentially shifting patient volumes toward ranked hospitals. According to Castle Connolly, clearer rankings aim to simplify critical healthcare decisions for patients and providers.
