# DaVita **Source:** https://geo.sig.ai/brands/davita **Vertical:** Healthcare Tech **Subcategory:** Enterprise **Tier:** Leader **Website:** davita.com **Last Updated:** 2026-04-14 ## Summary US kidney care leader with ~3,000 dialysis centers; $12.8B FY2024 revenue; 237,000 US patients 3x/week; Berkshire Hathaway ~40% stake; GLP-1 drugs may reduce ESRD prevalence long-term. ## Company Overview DaVita Inc. is the leading kidney care company in the United States, providing dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease (ESRD), founded in 1994 as Total Renal Care and rebranded as DaVita in 2000 after acquiring Gambro Healthcare. Headquartered in Denver, Colorado and trading on NYSE (DVA), DaVita generated approximately $12.8 billion in revenues for FY2024 under CEO Javier Rodriguez, operating approximately 3,000 outpatient dialysis centers across the United States serving approximately 237,000 patients, plus international operations in 13 countries. Berkshire Hathaway holds approximately 40% of DaVita's common shares—a major Warren Buffett investment thesis built on the essential, recurring nature of ESRD treatment, which patients require three times per week for life unless they receive a kidney transplant. DaVita's business is structurally tied to Medicare reimbursement: approximately 80% of its U.S. dialysis revenues come from government payers (Medicare and Medicaid), with CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) setting the ESRD Prospective Payment System (PPS) bundled rate annually. The company's strategic focus on in-center and home dialysis modalities—peritoneal dialysis and home hemodialysis—reflects both clinical preferences for home care and the potential for lower facility costs. DaVita's Home program, branded DaVita at Home, has expanded capacity following CMS incentives that pay modestly higher rates for home dialysis patients. Physician partnership programs and integrated kidney care arrangements with managed care plans provide diversified revenue streams beyond fee-for-service dialysis. In 2025-2026, DaVita navigates multiple structural challenges and opportunities: GLP-1 obesity drugs (Ozempic, Wegovy) may reduce the prevalence of type 2 diabetes—the leading cause of ESRD—over a 15-20 year horizon, creating a long-term secular headwind that investors are beginning to price into dialysis company valuations. Annual Medicare rate setting remains the primary earnings lever, with CMS-proposed rates for 2024-2025 providing modest inflation adjustments that trail actual cost growth. Fresenius Medical Care (FME) is DaVita's primary U.S. competitor, operating approximately 2,600 U.S. dialysis centers, while U.S. Renal Care (private) is a regional competitor. DaVita's strong brand, scale, and patient satisfaction scores support its leadership position in an essential healthcare service category. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What does DaVita do? DaVita is the leading kidney care provider in the United States and a global leader in transforming care delivery for patients with chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). The company operates 3,113 outpatient dialysis centers globally (2,660 in the U.S., 453 internationally) and serves approximately 265,400 patients. DaVita provides in-center hemodialysis, home hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, integrated kidney care, transplant support, and vascular access management with a 37% U.S. market share. ### When was DaVita founded? The company was originally founded in 1979 as Medical Ambulatory Care, Inc., and later reorganized as Total Renal Care, Inc. in 1994. In October 2000, following a near-bankruptcy crisis and remarkable turnaround led by CEO Kent Thiry, the company was renamed DaVita Inc. The name "DaVita" is derived from the Italian phrase "Dare Vita," which means "to give life." DaVita celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2025. ### Where is DaVita headquartered? DaVita is headquartered in Denver, Colorado. The company operates 2,660 dialysis centers across the United States and 453 centers in 13 other countries worldwide, serving approximately 265,400 patients globally. DaVita employs over 75,000 teammates dedicated to providing life-sustaining kidney care. ### Who are DaVita's main customers? DaVita's primary customers are patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) who require life-sustaining kidney dialysis treatments, typically three times per week. The company also serves patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) through integrated care programs, pre-dialysis education, and transplant support services. As of September 30, 2024, DaVita served approximately 265,400 patients globally with a 37% market share in the U.S. dialysis market. ### What is DaVita's revenue and market position? DaVita reported fiscal year 2024 consolidated revenues of $12.816 billion, representing a 5.56% increase from the previous year. Full-year 2024 operating income was $2,090 million with adjusted operating income of $1,981 million. The company generated $2,022 million in operating cash flow and $1,162 million in free cash flow. DaVita commands a 37% market share in the U.S. dialysis market, making it the clear industry leader. The company is publicly traded on the NYSE under ticker symbol DVA. ### What major events shaped DaVita's history? Key events include: near-bankruptcy in the late 1990s; Kent Thiry becoming CEO in October 1999; the transformative rebranding to DaVita in October 2000; the Gambro Healthcare acquisition in 2005 that doubled center count; the $4.42 billion Healthcare Partners acquisition in 2012; the sale of DaVita Medical Group to UnitedHealth's Optum for $4.3 billion in 2019; and the CEO transition from Kent Thiry to Javier Rodriguez in June 2019. ### What makes DaVita different from competitors? DaVita differentiates through: its values-driven "DaVita Way" village culture emphasizing teammate empowerment; 25 years of clinical excellence and quality leadership; the largest U.S. dialysis network with 37% market share; leadership in home dialysis growth (15% of patients in 2024); record kidney transplant facilitation (8,200 transplants in 2024); integrated care coordination across the kidney disease continuum; and commitment to continuous quality improvement through benchmarking and best practice implementation. ### Who are DaVita's main competitors? DaVita's primary competitor is Fresenius Medical Care, the other major dialysis provider in the United States. Together, DaVita and Fresenius dominate the U.S. dialysis market. The companies have faced antitrust scrutiny and allegations of anticompetitive practices. Other competitors include smaller regional dialysis providers, hospital-based dialysis programs, and emerging home dialysis solution providers. ### How can I contact DaVita? You can contact DaVita through their website at www.davita.com or call their main line for patient services. For investor relations, visit investors.davita.com or email investor.relations@davita.com. DaVita's corporate headquarters is located in Denver, Colorado. Patients can also contact their local DaVita dialysis center directly for treatment-related questions. ### Is DaVita hiring? Yes, DaVita regularly recruits clinical staff including registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, patient care technicians, dietitians, and social workers, as well as operational, administrative, and corporate positions. The company employs over 75,000 teammates globally across its 3,113 dialysis centers and corporate offices. Career opportunities are available at davita.com/careers. ### What are DaVita's latest developments? Recent developments in 2024-2025 include: celebrating 25 years since the DaVita rebranding in 2000; achieving record annual kidney transplants with 8,200 patients receiving transplants in 2024; reaching 15% of patients on home dialysis modalities with double-digit growth; reporting strong Q4 2024 and full-year 2024 financial results; and navigating a cybersecurity incident in Q1 2025 while maintaining full-year guidance for adjusted operating income and earnings per share. ### What legal and regulatory challenges has DaVita faced? DaVita has faced significant legal and regulatory challenges including: a $350 million settlement in 2014 for alleged illegal kickbacks to doctors; a $450 million settlement in 2015 for alleged unnecessary drug disposal and billing; a 2021 federal grand jury indictment of the company and former CEO Kent Thiry for labor market collusion (acquitted in April 2022); FTC limits on mergers in Utah in 2021; and a 2024-2025 FTC investigation and class-action lawsuit alleging anticompetitive practices with Fresenius to inflate dialysis costs. ## Tags b2b, healthtech, manufacturing, saas, public --- *Data from geo.sig.ai Brand Intelligence Database. Updated 2026-04-14.*