BUZZ-Jefferies sees Aussie pathology lab chain Healius missing annual outlook

** Jefferies analysts cut price target on Australia's Healius Ltd to A$1.18 from A$1.20, retain "underperform" rating

** HLS down 2.4% at A$1.2975 at 0357 GMT after falling as much as 3.8% earlier

** Brokerage says HLS, which runs pathology laboratories and diagnostics imaging centres, is unlikely to meet its annual operating earnings guidance given "subdued" healthcare environment in Australia

** Jefferies expects FY24 EBIT of about A$67 mln ($43.70 mln), below HLS' outlook of between A$70 mln and A$80 mln and below last year's A$99 mln

** For HLS, things continue to look tough in the near-term - Jefferies

** Five of 12 analysts rate the stock "buy" or higher, while seven rate it "sell" or lower; their median PT is A$1.25 – LSEG data

** HLS down 20.6% so far this year

($1 = 1.5330 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Sameer Manekar in Bengaluru)

((Sameer.Manekar@thomsonreuters.com; Twitter: ))