For new and old investors, taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals. Zacks Premium provides lots of different ways to do both.
The popular research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor, giving you access to daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens.
It also includes access to the Zacks Style Scores.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? The Zacks Style Scores is a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on three popular investing types, and were developed as complementary indicators for the Zacks Rank. This combination helps investors choose securities with the highest chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreValue investors love finding good stocks at good prices, especially before the broader market catches on to a stock's true value. Utilizing ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and many other multiples, the Value Style Score identifies the most attractive and most discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum investors, who live by the saying "the trend is your friend," are most interested in taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Utilizing one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, among other factors, the Momentum Style Score can help determine favorable times to buy high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you want a combination of all three Style Scores, then the VGM Score will be your friend. It rates each stock on their combined weighted styles, helping you find the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum. It's also one of the best indicators to use with the Zacks Rank.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank, which is a proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to make building a winning portfolio easier.
#1 (Strong Buy) stocks have produced an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988, which is more than double the S&P 500's performance over the same time frame. However, the Zacks Rank examines a ton of stocks, and there can be more than 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, and another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
This totals more than 800 top-rated stocks, and it can be overwhelming to try and pick the best stocks for you and your portfolio.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
To maximize your returns, you want to buy stocks with the highest probability of success. This means picking stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you find yourself looking at stocks with a #3 (Hold) rank, make sure they have Scores of A or B as well to ensure as much upside potential as possible.
Since the Scores were created to work together with the Zacks Rank, the direction of a stock's earnings estimate revisions should be a key factor when choosing which stocks to buy.
Here's an example: a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one with Style Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings outlook, and a bigger chance its share price will decrease too.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) Headquartered in Nashville, TN, HCA Healthcare is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the United States. At the end of 2025, the company operated 190 hospitals and approximately 2,500 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 19 American states and the United Kingdom.
HCA is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
It also boasts a Value Style Score of A thanks to attractive valuation metrics like a forward P/E ratio of 15.87; value investors should take notice.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $29.45 per share. HCA boasts an average earnings surprise of +8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, HCA should be on investors' short list.
Key Takeaways HCA Healthcare's Q3 equivalent admissions are expected to increase 1.7% year over year, with occupancy at 73%.Q3 consensus calls for $6.75 EPS and $19.38 billion in revenues, implying a 3% earnings decline.Operating expenses may rise 2%, while outpatient surgery cases and revenue per equivalent admission decline.
Hospital operator HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is set to report third-quarter 2026 results on Oct. 27, before the opening bell. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings is currently pegged at $6.75 per share on revenues of $19.38 billion.
The third-quarter earnings estimate has seen one upward and one downward revision over the past 30 days. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for earnings indicates a year-over-year decline of 3%, while the same for revenues implies growth of 1.1%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
For 2026, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $78.58 billion, implying a rise of 3.9% year over year. The consensus mark for 2026 EPS is pegged at $29.45, implying an increase of 4.4% year over year.
HCA Healthcare’s earnings beat estimates in three of the last four quarters and missed once, with the average surprise being 8%. This is depicted in the figure below.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. Price and EPS Surprise
HCA Healthcare, Inc. price-eps-surprise | HCA Healthcare, Inc. Quote
Q3 Earnings Whispers for HCAOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for the company this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the odds of an earnings beat. That’s not the case here.
HCA has an Earnings ESP of -0.73% and a Zacks Rank #3 at present. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they’re reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
What’s Shaping HCA Healthcare’s Q3 Results?The Zacks Consensus Estimate for third-quarter equivalent admissions indicates 1.7% year-over-year growth, whereas our model estimate suggests a 1.9% jump.
The consensus estimate for occupancy is pegged at 73%, up from 71.7% a year ago. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for inpatient revenue per admission indicates a 4.3% year-over-year increase. Our model estimate suggests a 6.6% jump for the same.
While these factors are likely to have positioned HCA Healthcare for growth from the year-ago quarter, rising expenses, lower average length of stay, outpatient surgery cases and revenue per equivalent admission make an earnings beat uncertain.
Our model estimate for third-quarter total operating expenses indicates a 2% increase from a year ago, due to higher salaries & benefits and other operating expenses. We expect other operating expenses to jump 5.4%.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for average length of stay indicates a 1.3% decline from the year-ago period. Moreover, both the consensus estimate and our model estimate for outpatient surgery cases imply a 1.3% fall from a year ago. The consensus estimate for revenue per equivalent admission suggests a 1% year-over-year decline, while our estimate indicates a milder decrease of 0.4%.
Stocks That Warrant a LookWhile an earnings beat looks uncertain for HCA Healthcare, here are some companies from the broader Medical space that you may want to consider, as our model shows that these have the right combination of elements to post an earnings beat this time around:
Phibro Animal Health Corporation (PAHC - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +2.10% and a Zacks Rank #1 at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Phibro’s third-quarter bottom line suggests 8.2% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 18.4%. PAHC’s revenues for the third quarter are pegged at $378.5 million, suggesting a 4% increase from the year-ago period.
ProMIS Neurosciences, Inc. (PMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +22.43% and a Zacks Rank #2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for ProMIS' third-quarter loss is pinned at $1.26 per share, indicating a 79% year-over-year improvement. PMN has witnessed one upward revision against no downward movement over the past 30 days.
Illumina, Inc. (ILMN - Free Report) has an Earnings ESP of +9.16% and a Zacks Rank of 2 at present.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Illumina’s third-quarter bottom line suggests 3% year-over-year growth. Its earnings beat estimates in each of the past four quarters, with an average surprise of 9.7%. ILMN’s revenues for the to-be-reported quarter are pegged at $1.14 billion, indicating a 5% increase from the year-ago period’s level.
NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext.
Wall Street analysts expect HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) to post quarterly earnings of $6.75 per share in its upcoming report, which indicates a year-over-year decline of 3%. Revenues are expected to be $19.38 billion, up 1.1% from the year-ago quarter.
The consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This reflects how the analysts covering the stock have collectively reevaluated their initial estimates during this timeframe.
Ahead of a company's earnings disclosure, it is crucial to give due consideration to changes in earnings estimates. These revisions serve as a noteworthy factor in predicting potential investor reactions to the stock. Numerous empirical studies consistently demonstrate a strong relationship between trends in earnings estimate revision and the short-term price performance of a stock.
While investors typically use consensus earnings and revenue estimates as a yardstick to evaluate the company's quarterly performance, scrutinizing analysts' projections for some of the company's key metrics can offer a more comprehensive perspective.
Given this perspective, it's time to examine the average forecasts of specific HCA metrics that are routinely monitored and predicted by Wall Street analysts.
The combined assessment of analysts suggests that 'Revenues- Other' will likely reach $1.03 billion. The estimate indicates a change of +60.4% from the prior-year quarter.
It is projected by analysts that the 'Revenues- Medicare' will reach $2.93 billion. The estimate indicates a year-over-year change of +7.6%.
According to the collective judgment of analysts, 'Revenues- Managed Medicare' should come in at $3.20 billion. The estimate indicates a change of -3.1% from the prior-year quarter.
Based on the collective assessment of analysts, 'Revenues- International (Managed Care & Insurers)' should arrive at $464.46 million. The estimate indicates a change of -4% from the prior-year quarter.
The average prediction of analysts places 'Revenue per Equivalent Admission' at $18269.87 . The estimate compares to the year-ago value of $18446.00 .
Analysts expect 'Equivalent Admissions' to come in at 1.06 billion. The estimate compares to the year-ago value of 1.04 billion.
The consensus estimate for 'Admissions' stands at 587.13 million. Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 577.80 million in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts predict that the 'Patient Days' will reach 2688 days. The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 2693 days.
The consensus among analysts is that 'Average Length of Stay' will reach 5 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported 5 in the same quarter of the previous year.
Analysts forecast 'Number of hospitals' to reach 190 . The estimate is in contrast to the year-ago figure of 191 .
Analysts' assessment points toward 'Inpatient Revenue per Admission' reaching $20762.76 . Compared to the current estimate, the company reported $19908.00 in the same quarter of the previous year.
The collective assessment of analysts points to an estimated 'Equivalent Patient Days' of 4.84 million. Compared to the present estimate, the company reported 4.84 million in the same quarter last year.
View all Key Company Metrics for HCA here>>>
Over the past month, HCA shares have recorded returns of +5.3% versus the Zacks S&P 500 composite's no change. Based on its Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), HCA will likely exhibit a performance that aligns with the overall market in the upcoming period. You can see the complete list of today's Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) stocks here >>>> .
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, today announced it will host its eighth annual “Crush the Crisis” national prescription drug take back day. On Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026, HCA Healthcare facilities from across the country will partner with local law enforcement to help patients, families and communities safely and anonymously dispose of unused or expired medications at more than 130 collection sites, helping keep.
NEW YORK, Oct. 20, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
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Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors, and Zacks Premium offers many different ways to do both.
Featuring daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank, full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List, Equity Research reports, and Premium stock screens, the research service can help you become a smarter, more self-assured investor.
Zacks Premium includes access to the Zacks Style Scores as well.
What are the Zacks Style Scores? Developed alongside the Zacks Rank, the Zacks Style Scores are a group of complementary indicators that help investors pick stocks with the best chances of beating the market over the next 30 days.
Each stock is assigned a rating of A, B, C, D, or F based on their value, growth, and momentum characteristics. Just like in school, an A is better than a B, a B is better than a C, and so on -- that means the better the score, the better chance the stock will outperform.
The Style Scores are broken down into four categories:
Value ScoreFinding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under their true value, are what value investors like to focus on. So, the Value Style Score takes into account ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, Price/Cash Flow, and a host of other multiples to highlight the most attractive and discounted stocks.
Growth ScoreGrowth investors are more concerned with a stock's future prospects, and the overall financial health and strength of a company. Thus, the Growth Style Score analyzes characteristics like projected and historic earnings, sales, and cash flow to find stocks that will see sustainable growth over time.
Momentum ScoreMomentum traders and investors live by the saying "the trend is your friend." This investing style is all about taking advantage of upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook. Employing factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates, the Momentum Style Score can indicate favorable times to build a position in high-momentum stocks.
VGM ScoreIf you like to use all three kinds of investing, then the VGM Score is for you. It's a combination of all Style Scores, and is an important indicator to use with the Zacks Rank. The VGM Score rates each stock on their shared weighted styles, narrowing down the companies with the most attractive value, best growth forecast, and most promising momentum.
How Style Scores Work with the Zacks Rank The Zacks Rank is a proprietary stock-rating model that harnesses the power of earnings estimate revisions, or changes to a company's earnings expectations, to help investors build a successful portfolio.
Investors can count on the Zacks Rank's success, with #1 (Strong Buy) stocks producing an unmatched +23.82% average annual return since 1988, more than double the S&P 500's performance. But the model rates a large number of stocks, and there are over 200 companies with a Strong Buy rank, plus another 600 with a #2 (Buy) rank, on any given day.
But it can feel overwhelming to pick the right stocks for you and your investing goals with over 800 top-rated stocks to choose from.
That's where the Style Scores come in.
You want to make sure you're buying stocks with the highest likelihood of success, and to do that, you'll need to pick stocks with a Zacks Rank #1 or #2 that also have Style Scores of A or B. If you like a stock that only has a #3 (Hold) rank, it should also have Scores of A or B to guarantee as much upside potential as possible.
As mentioned above, the Scores are designed to work with the Zacks Rank, so any change to a company's earnings outlook should be a deciding factor when picking which stocks to buy.
For instance, a stock with a #4 (Sell) or #5 (Strong Sell) rating, even one that boasts Scores of A and B, still has a downward-trending earnings forecast, and a much greater likelihood its share price will decline as well.
Thus, the more stocks you own with a #1 or #2 Rank and Scores of A or B, the better.
Stock to Watch: HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) Headquartered in Nashville, TN, HCA Healthcare is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the United States. At the end of 2025, the company operated 190 hospitals and approximately 2,500 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 19 American states and the United Kingdom.
HCA is a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, with a VGM Score of A.
Momentum investors should take note of this Medical stock. HCA has a Momentum Style Score of B, and shares are up 6.8% over the past four weeks.
For fiscal 2026, one analyst revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $29.45 per share. HCA boasts an average earnings surprise of +8%.
With a solid Zacks Rank and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, HCA should be on investors' short list.
The market expects HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) to deliver a year-over-year decline in earnings on higher revenues when it reports results for the quarter ended September 2026. This widely-known consensus outlook is important in assessing the company's earnings picture, but a powerful factor that might influence its near-term stock price is how the actual results compare to these estimates.
The earnings report, which is expected to be released on October 27, might help the stock move higher if these key numbers are better than expectations. On the other hand, if they miss, the stock may move lower.
While the sustainability of the immediate price change and future earnings expectations will mostly depend on management's discussion of business conditions on the earnings call, it's worth handicapping the probability of a positive EPS surprise.
Zacks Consensus EstimateThis hospital operator is expected to post quarterly earnings of $6.75 per share in its upcoming report, which represents a year-over-year change of -3%.
Revenues are expected to be $19.38 billion, up 1.1% from the year-ago quarter.
Estimate Revisions TrendThe consensus EPS estimate for the quarter has been revised 1.2% higher over the last 30 days to the current level. This is essentially a reflection of how the covering analysts have collectively reassessed their initial estimates over this period.
Investors should keep in mind that an aggregate change may not always reflect the direction of estimate revisions by each of the covering analysts.
Price, Consensus and EPS Surprise
Earnings WhisperEstimate revisions ahead of a company's earnings release offer clues to the business conditions for the period whose results are coming out. This insight is at the core of our proprietary surprise prediction model -- the Zacks Earnings ESP (Expected Surprise Prediction).
The Zacks Earnings ESP compares the Most Accurate Estimate to the Zacks Consensus Estimate for the quarter; the Most Accurate Estimate is a more recent version of the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. The idea here is that analysts revising their estimates right before an earnings release have the latest information, which could potentially be more accurate than what they and others contributing to the consensus had predicted earlier.
Thus, a positive or negative Earnings ESP reading theoretically indicates the likely deviation of the actual earnings from the consensus estimate. However, the model's predictive power is significant for positive ESP readings only.
A positive Earnings ESP is a strong predictor of an earnings beat, particularly when combined with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold). Our research shows that stocks with this combination produce a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time, and a solid Zacks Rank actually increases the predictive power of Earnings ESP.
Please note that a negative Earnings ESP reading is not indicative of an earnings miss. Our research shows that it is difficult to predict an earnings beat with any degree of confidence for stocks with negative Earnings ESP readings and/or Zacks Rank of 4 (Sell) or 5 (Strong Sell).
How Have the Numbers Shaped Up for HCA?For HCA, the Most Accurate Estimate is lower than the Zacks Consensus Estimate, suggesting that analysts have recently become bearish on the company's earnings prospects. This has resulted in an Earnings ESP of -0.73%.
On the other hand, the stock currently carries a Zacks Rank of #3.
So, this combination makes it difficult to conclusively predict that HCA will beat the consensus EPS estimate.
Does Earnings Surprise History Hold Any Clue?Analysts often consider to what extent a company has been able to match consensus estimates in the past while calculating their estimates for its future earnings. So, it's worth taking a look at the surprise history for gauging its influence on the upcoming number.
For the last reported quarter, it was expected that HCA would post earnings of $7.57 per share when it actually produced earnings of $7.59, delivering a surprise of +0.26%.
Over the last four quarters, the company has beaten consensus EPS estimates three times.
Bottom LineAn earnings beat or miss may not be the sole basis for a stock moving higher or lower. Many stocks end up losing ground despite an earnings beat due to other factors that disappoint investors. Similarly, unforeseen catalysts help a number of stocks gain despite an earnings miss.
That said, betting on stocks that are expected to beat earnings expectations does increase the odds of success. This is why it's worth checking a company's Earnings ESP and Zacks Rank ahead of its quarterly release. Make sure to utilize our Earnings ESP Filter to uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they've reported.
HCA doesn't appear a compelling earnings-beat candidate. However, investors should pay attention to other factors too for betting on this stock or staying away from it ahead of its earnings release.
Stay on top of upcoming earnings announcements with the Zacks Earnings Calendar.
Here at Zacks, we offer our members many different opportunities to take full advantage of the stock market, as well as how to invest in ways that lead to long-term success.
The Zacks Premium service, which provides daily updates of the Zacks Rank and Zacks Industry Rank; full access to the Zacks #1 Rank List; Equity Research reports; and Premium stock screens like the Earnings ESP filter, makes these more manageable goals. All of the features can help you identify what stocks to buy, what to sell, and what are today's hottest industries.
The service also includes the Focus List, which is a long-term portfolio of top stocks that boast a winning, market-beating combination of growth and momentum qualities.
Breaking Down the Zacks Focus ListIf you could get access to a curated list of stocks to kickstart your investment portfolio, wouldn't you jump at the chance to take a peek?
That's what the Zacks Focus List offers. It's a portfolio of 50 stocks that serve as a starting point for long-term investors to build their individual portfolios. The stocks included in the list are set to outperform the market over the next 12 months.
Additionally, each selection is accompanied by a full Zacks Analyst Report, something that makes the Focus List even more valuable. The report explains in detail why each stock was picked and why we believe it's good for the long-term.
The portfolio's past performance only solidifies why investors should consider it as a starting point. For 2020, the Focus List gained 13.85% on an annualized basis compared to the S&P 500's return of 9.38%. Cumulatively, the portfolio has returned 2,519.23% while the S&P returned 854.95%. Returns are for the period of February 1, 1996 to March 31, 2021.
Focus List MethodologyWhen stocks are picked for the Focus List, it reflects our enduring reliance on the power of earnings estimate revisions.
Brokerage analysts are in charge of determining a company's growth and profitability expectations, or earnings estimates. These analysts work together with company management to evaluate all factors that may affect future earnings, like interest rates, the economy, and sector and industry optimism.
Investors also need to look at what a company will earn down the road. This is why earnings estimate revisions are so important.
Stocks that receive upward earnings estimate revisions are more likely to receive even more upward changes in the future. For example, if an analyst raised their estimates last month, they're more likely to do it again this month, and other analysts are likely to do the same.
Harnessing the power of earnings estimate revisions is where the Zacks Rank comes in. The Zacks Rank, which is a unique, proprietary stock-rating model, employs earnings estimate revisions to make it easier to build a winning portfolio.
Four primary factors make up the Zacks Rank: Agreement, Magnitude, Upside, and Surprise. Each is given a raw score that's recalculated every night and compiled into the Rank, and with this data, stocks are then classified into five groups, ranging from "Strong Buy" to "Strong Sell."
The Focus List is comprised of stocks hand-picked from a long list of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy) ranked companies, meaning that each new addition boasts a bullish earnings consensus among analysts.
Since stock prices respond to revisions, it can be very profitable to buy stocks with rising earnings estimates. By buying Focus List stocks, then, you're likely getting into companies whose future earnings estimates will be raised, potentially leading to price momentum.
Focus List Spotlight: HCA Healthcare (HCA - Free Report) Headquartered in Nashville, TN, HCA Healthcare is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the United States. At the end of 2025, the company operated 190 hospitals and approximately 2,500 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 19 American states and the United Kingdom.
Since being added to the Focus List on January 7, 2019 at $123.39 per share, shares of HCA have increased 268.65% to $454.88. The stock is currently a #3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank.
For fiscal 2026, one analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days, and the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.03 to $29.45. HCA boasts an average earnings surprise of 8%.
Earnings for HCA are forecasted to see growth of 4.4% for the current fiscal year as well.
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Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 27.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 19,162 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 4,161 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $8,177,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.
A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $5,069,974,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth $410,992,000. Jupiter Topco LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the second quarter worth $371,138,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its position in HCA Healthcare by 20.5% during the second quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,707,473 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,835,397,000 after acquiring an additional 799,761 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at about $238,457,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
HCA Healthcare Trading Down 0.7% NYSE HCA opened at $455.53 on Tuesday. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12 month low of $353.99 and a 12 month high of $556.52. The company’s 50 day moving average is $427.22 and its two-hundred day moving average is $418.81. The stock has a market cap of $98.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.44, a PEG ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 1.10.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%. The business’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $6.84 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.45 EPS for the current year. HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th were issued a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is currently 10.45%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In HCA has been the topic of several research reports. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $475.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $495.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $425.00 to $380.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $467.61.
View Our Latest Report on HCA Healthcare
HCA Healthcare Company Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency care facilities, physician practices and other healthcare sites. Its facilities provide a broad range of services, including acute and emergency care, surgery, cardiology, oncology, women’s and children’s services, behavioral health and outpatient care.
The company serves patients primarily across the United States through a network of healthcare facilities in numerous states.
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, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NEW YORK, Oct. 13, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
HCA Healthcare remains a "Buy," supported by strong revenue growth and favorable demographic trends in healthcare demand. Despite some margin pressures from payer mix shifts, HCA's revenue per equivalent admission rose 6% and occupancy improved year-over-year. Management anticipates 2026 revenue growth to $77–$79.5 billion, though net income and EBITDA guidance have been revised slightly lower.
Terra Nova Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 112.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 3,019 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,595 shares during the quarter. Terra Nova Asset Management LLC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $1,288,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in HCA. Anchyra Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3.7% in the first quarter. Anchyra Partners LLC now owns 587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $278,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. boosted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 73.1% during the first quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 90 shares of the company’s stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 4.2% in the 1st quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 935 shares of the company’s stock valued at $442,000 after buying an additional 38 shares in the last quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 6,845 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,239,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Monument Capital Management raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. Monument Capital Management now owns 672 shares of the company’s stock worth $287,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the period. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.
HCA Healthcare Trading Up 1.7% NYSE HCA opened at $458.69 on Tuesday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $421.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of $419.26. The stock has a market cap of $99.31 billion, a PE ratio of 15.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.10. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a twelve month low of $353.99 and a twelve month high of $556.52.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.84 EPS. HCA Healthcare’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 EPS for the current year. HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th were paid a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is 10.45%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth HCA has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $369.00 to $381.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $425.00 to $380.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Weiss Ratings raised shares of HCA Healthcare from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Thursday. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 27th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $467.61.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on HCA
About HCA Healthcare (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc is a provider of healthcare services in the United States. Through its network of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the company delivers services including emergency and urgent care, surgery, inpatient and outpatient treatment, women’s and children’s care, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and behavioral health services.
HCA Healthcare also operates physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, diagnostic facilities, and other outpatient care sites.
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, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NEW YORK, Oct. 06, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) and Nutex Health (NASDAQ:NUTX – Get Free Report) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better investment? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, dividends, valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, earnings and analyst recommendations.
Analyst Ratings This is a breakdown of current ratings and target prices for HCA Healthcare and Nutex Health, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score HCA Healthcare 1 8 15 0 2.58 Nutex Health 0 1 2 1 3.00 HCA Healthcare currently has a consensus price target of $463.70, suggesting a potential upside of 6.71%. Nutex Health has a consensus price target of $317.50, suggesting a potential upside of 41.11%. Given Nutex Health’s stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Nutex Health is more favorable than HCA Healthcare.
Insider and Institutional Ownership 62.7% of HCA Healthcare shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 5.3% of Nutex Health shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of HCA Healthcare shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 44.7% of Nutex Health shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Volatility & Risk HCA Healthcare has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Nutex Health has a beta of 0.55, indicating that its stock price is 45% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Valuation & Earnings This table compares HCA Healthcare and Nutex Health”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio HCA Healthcare $75.60 billion 1.24 $6.78 billion $29.87 14.55 Nutex Health $875.26 million 1.76 $70.79 million $25.47 8.83 HCA Healthcare has higher revenue and earnings than Nutex Health. Nutex Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than HCA Healthcare, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.
Profitability This table compares HCA Healthcare and Nutex Health’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets HCA Healthcare 8.77% -244.79% 11.10% Nutex Health 21.25% 39.74% 18.91% Summary Nutex Health beats HCA Healthcare on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.
About HCA Healthcare (Get Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. The company also operates outpatient health care facilities consisting of freestanding ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, physician practices, and various other facilities. In addition, it operates behavioral hospitals, which provide therapeutic programs comprising child, adolescent and adult psychiatric care, adolescent and adult alcohol, drug abuse treatment, and counseling services. The company was formerly known as HCA Holdings, Inc. HCA Healthcare, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
About Nutex Health (Get Free Report)
Nutex Health Inc. operates as a physician-led, healthcare services, and operations company. It operates through three segments: Hospital, Population Health Management (PHM), and Real Estate. The PHM segment establishes and operates independent physician associations; and offers a cloud-based platform for healthcare organizations to provide value-based care and population health management. The Real Estate segment owns and owns and leases land and hospital building. The Hospital segment develops and operates a network of micro-hospitals, specialty hospitals and hospital outpatient departments which offers 24/7 care. It also provides operational and managerial services, including management, billing, collections, human resources and recruiting, legal, accounting, and marketing. In addition, the company offers healthcare services, including emergency room care, inpatient care, and behavioral health, as well as onsite imaging, such as CT scan, X-ray, MRI, ultrasound, etc.; certified and accredited laboratories; and onsite inpatient pharmacies. The company was founded in 2011 and is based in Houston, Texas.
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Park National Corp OH lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 54.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 17,851 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 6,276 shares during the quarter. Park National Corp OH’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $7,618,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. MidFirst Bank purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth approximately $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the first quarter worth approximately $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 213.0% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Delos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently weighed in on HCA shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $435.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, September 8th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Friday. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Friday, September 4th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $463.70.
Check Out Our Latest Research Report on HCA HCA Healthcare Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:HCA traded up $7.63 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $434.32. 365,073 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,346,918. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $417.13 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $421.56. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a twelve month low of $353.99 and a twelve month high of $556.52. The company has a market cap of $94.03 billion, a PE ratio of 14.54, a P/E/G ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The company’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $6.84 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.
HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th were given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is presently 10.45%.
HCA Healthcare Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc is a provider of healthcare services in the United States. Through its network of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the company delivers services including emergency and urgent care, surgery, inpatient and outpatient treatment, women’s and children’s care, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and behavioral health services.
HCA Healthcare also operates physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, diagnostic facilities, and other outpatient care sites.
See Also Five stocks we like better than HCA Healthcare A Manufacturing Surprise Could Be a Big Win for These 2 Companies What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report).
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Argent Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 36.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 112,176 shares of the company’s stock after selling 65,181 shares during the quarter. HCA Healthcare accounts for about 0.4% of Argent Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 18th biggest holding. Argent Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.05% of HCA Healthcare worth $47,870,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of HCA. MidFirst Bank purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the first quarter valued at about $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 213.0% during the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, Delos Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group cut their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $635.00 to $579.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays cut their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $402.00 to $387.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Royal Bank Of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $435.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, September 8th. Raymond James Financial set a $528.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Friday, September 4th. Fifteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $463.70.
View Our Latest Stock Analysis on HCA Healthcare HCA Healthcare Price Performance NYSE:HCA traded up $8.95 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $435.64. 318,917 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,346,716. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a one year low of $353.99 and a one year high of $556.52. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $417.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $421.56. The company has a market cap of $94.32 billion, a PE ratio of 14.59, a P/E/G ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.84 EPS. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 EPS for the current fiscal year.
HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th were issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 10.45%.
HCA Healthcare Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc is a provider of healthcare services in the United States. Through its network of hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the company delivers services including emergency and urgent care, surgery, inpatient and outpatient treatment, women’s and children’s care, cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, and behavioral health services.
HCA Healthcare also operates physician practices, ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, diagnostic facilities, and other outpatient care sites.
Featured Stories Five stocks we like better than HCA Healthcare What a $1 Billion Chip Deal Says About Amazon’s AI Ambitions 3 Stocks Benefiting From AI Demand Just Announced Major Buybacks Insiders Are Selling These 3 Stocks, Should You? Datadog’s Rally Has Insiders Selling—Can It Keep Climbing? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report).
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HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) and Omada Health (NASDAQ:OMDA – Get Free Report) are both healthcare companies, but which is the superior stock? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, profitability, analyst recommendations, valuation, risk, dividends and institutional ownership.
Earnings and Valuation This table compares HCA Healthcare and Omada Health”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio HCA Healthcare $75.60 billion 1.22 $6.78 billion $29.87 14.30 Omada Health $260.21 million 4.79 -$12.78 million $0.05 407.40 HCA Healthcare has higher revenue and earnings than Omada Health. HCA Healthcare is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Omada Health, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current recommendations for HCA Healthcare and Omada Health, as provided by MarketBeat.com.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score HCA Healthcare 1 8 15 0 2.58 Omada Health 1 2 11 0 2.71 HCA Healthcare presently has a consensus target price of $463.70, suggesting a potential upside of 8.57%. Omada Health has a consensus target price of $26.67, suggesting a potential upside of 30.91%. Given Omada Health’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe Omada Health is more favorable than HCA Healthcare.
Profitability This table compares HCA Healthcare and Omada Health’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets HCA Healthcare 8.77% -244.79% 11.10% Omada Health 1.39% 2.60% 1.98% Institutional and Insider Ownership 62.7% of HCA Healthcare shares are held by institutional investors. 1.5% of HCA Healthcare shares are held by company insiders. Comparatively, 6.4% of Omada Health shares are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.
Volatility and Risk HCA Healthcare has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its stock price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Omada Health has a beta of 2.03, indicating that its stock price is 103% more volatile than the S&P 500.
About HCA Healthcare (Get Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. The company also operates outpatient health care facilities consisting of freestanding ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, physician practices, and various other facilities. In addition, it operates behavioral hospitals, which provide therapeutic programs comprising child, adolescent and adult psychiatric care, adolescent and adult alcohol, drug abuse treatment, and counseling services. The company was formerly known as HCA Holdings, Inc. HCA Healthcare, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
About Omada Health (Get Free Report)
Omada’s mission is to bend the curve. Our hope is that, one day, tomorrow’s epidemiologists will notice a bend in disease curves, wonder what might be happening, and conclude that part of that impact has been Omada. As part of that mission, we strive to inspire and enable people to make lasting health changes on their own terms. We deliver virtual care between doctor’s visits, providing an engaging, personalized, and integrated experience for our members that is designed to improve their health while delivering value for the employers, health plans, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers (“PBMs”), and other entities that cover the cost of our programs. As of 2022, more than 156 million Americans suffered from one or more chronic conditions, such as obesity, prediabetes, diabetes, hypertension, and musculoskeletal (“MSK”) conditions, and approximately 40% of U.S. adults suffered from two or more chronic conditions, based on data published in the Annals of Bioethics & Clinical Applications. Managing these conditions—and treating the acute problems they can lead to—creates significant costs for employers, health plans, PBMs, and other entities that pay for the cost of care. According to the American Diabetes Association (the “ADA”)’s report “Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2022,” chronic diseases were the leading driver of U.S. medical spend, with diabetes alone accounting for $1 out of every $7 spent. According to research published in Diabetes Care, in 2022, an employee with type 2 diabetes cost on average an additional $7,000 annually due to increased medical costs, absenteeism, and lost productivity. The direct medical cost of people living with diabetes increased by 35% from 2012 to 2022, despite stable diabetes prevalence. It doesn’t have to be that way. Many chronic conditions can be managed or prevented at a more reasonable cost. One reason these conditions are often not managed efficiently is that the U.S. healthcare system was built mainly on encounter-based reimbursement models that pay for specific services, primarily as issues arise. Between what can be short and infrequent office visits, patients are often left to manage their condition on their own. Many have a hard time sticking to care plans and health goals—losing weight, eating better, exercising more—and have few resources to turn to for ongoing questions, accountability, and support as they work to change their lifestyle. Behavior change is hard. Omada was created to make it easier. Our virtual care programs are rooted in evidence and combine relationship-based, human-led clinical care with purpose-built technology. We call this approach Compassionate Intelligence. We work to develop trust with each member and use technology to help us personalize their experience, enabling us to unlock results at scale. We sell our programs to customers that cover the cost for covered individuals. Our customers include employers that cover our programs for their employees and their dependents, health systems that cover our programs for patients, and any other entity that is financially responsible for costs of our programs for a population of covered lives. We also work closely with health plans and PBMs that either cover our programs for a portion of their members as our customers or act as channel partners reselling our programs to their own end customers. Our channel partners’ end customers typically consist of employers that cover our programs for their employees and their dependents. In general, our customers cover the cost of our programs for our members, except that members in our physical therapy program may incur copays, coinsurance, or deductibles, depending on plan design, much like in-person physical therapy. We launched our initial program in diabetes prevention and weight health in 2012, with the goal of showing that a virtual program could achieve the same clinical results as its in-person archetype. Through feedback from our customers, channel partners, members, and the market at large, we then recognized the need to create an integrated, multi-condition care platform to address multiple, commonly comorbid, chronic conditions. Today, we offer cardiometabolic programs for prediabetes, diabetes, and hypertension; a physical therapy program to address MSK conditions; additional support for members taking glucagon-like peptide-1 agonists (“GLP-1”) in our cardiometabolic programs (“GLP-1 Care Tracks”); and behavioral health support across all programs. Since our founding, our programs have had a meaningful, positive impact. As of March 31, 2025, we had more than 2,000 customers and over 679,000 total members enrolled in one or more programs, and we had supported over one million members since launch. We count a member as enrolled in a program to the extent their participation was billed at least once in the preceding 12 months. We believe our programs serve a clear need for our customers and channel partners as well as our members, which is reinforced by our strong customer satisfaction and member engagement rates. In 2024, our average customer satisfaction rate for the year was over 90% for each of program implementation and customer success. Our customer satisfaction rate is based on survey results from customers that launched a new program during the measured period, and we consider a customer to be satisfied if they rated our program implementation and ongoing customer success, as applicable, at a 5 or higher on a 7-point scale. We believe that our customer satisfaction rates are strong and reflect the value of our services to customers. In 2024, more than 55% of members still engaged with our cardiometabolic programs at least once per month after a year in the program, and over 50% still engaged monthly after two years. We consider members to be still engaged after one year or two years in the program if, during their twelfth or twenty-fourth month of program participation in a cardiometabolic program, they complete at least one interaction with us, such as logging in or interacting with the Omada mobile app, sending messages to Omada Care Team members, or recording metrics such as weight, blood pressure, or blood glucose values. On average, in 2024, members in a cardiometabolic program engaged more than 30 times per month throughout their first year. Based on our experience and feedback from customers, we believe these engagement rates to be positive and to demonstrate the attractiveness of our program to members. We are proud of our progress, and we are just getting started. We have experienced strong growth since our inception. Revenue increased by 38% from $122.8 million to $169.8 million for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively, and by 57% from $35.1 million to $55.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2024 and 2025, respectively. We continue to generate revenue from recurring customers, as evidenced by our net dollar retention rate, which for customers who were contracted as of the beginning of the prior period, is calculated as total billings generated in a particular period divided by total billings generated in the prior period and was 110% and 128% for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2024, respectively. We have a history of net losses, due in part to the significant investments we have made in the design and development of our programs and platform enhancements, and have not yet achieved profitability on an annual basis. Our principal executive offices are located San Francisco, California.
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, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) announces the following Webcast: What: HCA Healthcare, Inc. 3Q 2026 Earnings Call When: Tuesday, October 27, 2026, at 9:00 AM Central (10:00 AM Eastern) How: Live Audio over the Internet: https://investor.hcahealthcare.com/events-and-presentations/default.aspx Contact: Frank Morgan, 615-344-2688, Vice President, Investor Relations, [email protected] If you are unable to listen during the live webcast, the call will.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, today presented its annual HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction at a ceremony in Nashville, Tennessee. The HCA Healthcare Awards of Distinction, which include the Frist Humanitarian Award and the Excellence in Nursing Award, are the highest honors HCA Healthcare bestows on colleagues, nurses, physicians and volunteers, recognizing individuals who exemplify the organization's cul.
NEW YORK, Sept. 29, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Key Takeaways HCA's admissions rose 2.4%, while average stays fell to 4.643 days in the second quarter of 2026.HCA's patient days increased just 0.6%, well below admission growth, while occupancy improved to 72.7%.HCA plans more than $7 billion in capital spending, including 1,000 to 1,200 additional inpatient beds. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is seeing higher patient volumes while patients are spending slightly less time in its hospitals. This combination could help the company use existing capacity more effectively as it continues to expand its network. In the second quarter of 2026, reported admissions increased 2.4% year over year to nearly 580,000. Same-facility admissions rose 2.5%, while same-facility emergency room visits advanced 3.6%.
At the same time, the average length of stay declined to 4.643 days from 4.726 days a year earlier. Occupancy improved to 72.7% from 72.0%, even as the average length of stay declined. This shows that HCA accommodated faster admission growth without a comparable increase in patient days. Patient days increased just 0.6%, considerably slower than admission growth.
The trend could become increasingly relevant as demand grows across the company’s markets and it continues investing in inpatient beds and emergency room capacity. HCA has approved more than $7 billion of capital expenditures expected to come online over the next three years, including 1,000 to 1,200 additional inpatient beds.
Still, shorter stays do not automatically translate into better operating performance. Service mix can influence the metric, while lower surgical volumes remain a consideration. For HCA, the key will be maintaining admission growth while managing hospital capacity without compromising care delivery. If that balance persists, shorter stays could give the company additional flexibility as patient volumes grow.
How Do Peers Compare?HCA’s Medical peers, including Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) and Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS - Free Report) , are also seeing steady hospital demand.
Tenet reported a 2.6% increase in same-hospital adjusted admissions in the second quarter of 2026, while emergency room visits rose 2%. THC’s hospital surgeries declined 0.7%, but net patient service revenue per adjusted admission increased 3.3%, supporting a 22.3% rise in hospital adjusted EBITDA to $762 million.
Universal Health’s same-facility acute-care adjusted admissions increased 2.9%, while adjusted patient days rose 3.1%. Net revenue per adjusted admission advanced 3%, helping acute-care revenues grow 8.2%. UHS saw patient-day growth broadly track admissions, while HCA’s patient-day growth remained well below its admission growth.
HCA’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of HCA Healthcare have gained 3.4% over the past year compared with the industry's 15.3% growth over the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, HCA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.91, down from the industry average of 16.67. HCA carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $29.42 per share, implying a 4.3% jump from the year-ago period’s level.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
HCA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
Key Takeaways HCA's admissions and ER visits rose, helping adjusted EPS advance 11% in the second quarter of 2026.HCA faces weaker elective procedures and a 15% drop in exchange-related equivalent admissions.HCA expects its resiliency program to improve cost trends in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) is navigating a more complex operating environment in which healthy demand is being offset by an unfavorable shift in its service and payer mix. The company’s volume trends remain solid, but the composition of that growth is becoming increasingly important to earnings.
Same-facility equivalent admissions increased 2.7% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, while emergency room visits rose 3.6%. Same-facility equivalent admissions among insured patients, excluding exchange plans, also grew 3.2% year over year, indicating that core demand remains healthy. In the second quarter, adjusted EPS advanced 11% year over year, supported by higher admissions, better expense performance and Medicaid supplemental payments.
However, inpatient and outpatient surgeries declined 2.3% and 3.4% year over year in the second quarter of 2026, respectively, as weaker elective demand weighed on procedure volumes. The more significant pressure is coming from HCA’s payer mix. Same-facility exchange-related equivalent admissions fell 15%, while uninsured equivalent admissions increased 15%, reflecting a near one-for-one migration of patients losing exchange coverage.
Against these pressures, HCA is leaning on its resiliency program to control costs through digital tools, global capabilities and workforce initiatives. The company expects these efforts to improve cost trends in the second half of 2026 and into 2027. Although HCA’s revised 2026 guidance reflects heavier exchange-related pressure, continued volume growth, cost discipline and network expansion could help it sustain earnings growth despite a changing service mix. Its planned investments should also broaden access points, with additional inpatient beds and outpatient facilities expected to expand capacity across growing markets.
How Are Peers Faring?Some of HCA’s peers in the medical space are Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) and Community Health Systems, Inc. (CYH - Free Report) .
Tenet is also facing payer-mix pressure while benefiting from higher-acuity care and strong expense control. In the second quarter of 2026, THC’s same-hospital admissions rose 2.3% year over year, despite surgeries slipping 0.7%. Hospital adjusted EBITDA jumped 22.3%, while its ambulatory business continued to provide another earnings-growth avenue.
Community Health Systems reported improving same-store demand in the second quarter of 2026, with admissions up 1.9% year over year and adjusted admissions rising 2.9%. However, unfavorable change in payer mix, divestitures and higher medical specialist fees weighed on CYH’s adjusted EBITDA despite better reimbursement rates and supplemental payments.
HCA’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of HCA Healthcare have gained 5.2% over the past year compared with the industry’s growth of 15.6%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, HCA Healthcare trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.95, below the industry average of 16.44. HCA carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA Healthcare’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $29.42 per share, implying 4.3% growth from the year-ago period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
HCA stock currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Top Wall Street analysts changed their outlook on these top names. For a complete view of all analyst rating changes, including upgrades, downgrades and initiations, please see our analyst ratings page.
BMO Capital analyst Sean Dodge initiated coverage on HCA Healthcare Inc (NYSE:HCA) with an Outperform rating and announced a price target of $495. HCA Healthcare closed at $438.12 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. Keybanc analyst Zach Haggerty initiated coverage on Guardian Pharmacy Services Inc (NYSE:GRDN) with an Overweight rating and announced a price target of $52. Guardian Pharmacy shares closed at $44.67 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. Oppenheimer analyst Kristen Owen initiated coverage on Toro Co (NYSE:TTC) with an Outperform rating and announced a price target of $120. Toro closed at $94.52 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. Seaport Global analyst Jay Goldberg initiated coverage on Marvell Technology Inc (NASDAQ:MRVL) with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $270. Marvell Technology shares closed at $262.36 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. BTIG analyst Marie Thibault initiated coverage on Pulse Biosciences Inc (NASDAQ:PLSE) with a Buy rating and announced a price target of $70. Pulse Biosciences closed at $52.69 on Tuesday. See how other analysts view this stock. Considering buying HCA stock? Here’s what analysts think:
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Healthcare Added 35,200 Jobs—3 Stocks Positioned to BenefitHCA Healthcare NYSE: HCA CFO Mike Marks said the hospital operator is navigating a changing policy environment in 2026 while continuing to see solid underlying demand for services outside of the health insurance exchanges.
Speaking at an investor conference, Marks described the expiration of enhanced exchange tax credits as the largest near-term issue for HCA and the broader hospital sector. He said some individuals losing exchange coverage are becoming uninsured, creating pressure on payer mix and elective-care utilization.
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The Aging of America Could Make HCA Healthcare a Long-Term WinnerStill, Marks said demand in HCA’s markets remains favorable. In the second quarter, insured business excluding exchange plans rose 3.2% from a year earlier. The company reported 2.5% admission growth and 2.7% adjusted-admissions growth during the period.
Exchange impact and state payment programs Based on developments during the first half of the year, HCA updated its estimated full-year exchange-related impact to between $1 billion and $1.2 billion, Marks said. He said the company based that range on its experience through the first six months and its estimates for the remainder of 2026.
This ETF Is Proof That the Healthcare Rebound Is RealMarks noted that comparisons may become somewhat more favorable in the fourth quarter because exchange volumes had already begun slowing in late 2025. He said fourth-quarter 2025 exchange volumes declined by approximately 5,000 equivalent admissions from the third quarter, while the full year had recorded exchange growth of more than 10% versus 2024.
Offsetting some of the exchange headwinds, HCA expects state supplemental payments to provide a net benefit of $300 million to $500 million for the year. Marks said five states in which HCA operates were able to advance programs under grandfathering provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill. All five have moved through approval processes, according to Marks, including Florida, Georgia, Virginia and Colorado.
Marks declined to quantify the impact of Virginia’s State Directed Payment program specifically, but said HCA’s overall estimate for supplemental-payment benefits continues to include Virginia.
Elective surgery pressures Marks said the primary cause of slower elective surgery volume was the migration of patients from exchange coverage to uninsured status, which can reduce access to elective care. He identified two additional factors affecting surgical trends.
The ongoing phaseout of Medicare’s Inpatient-Only List is shifting some procedures to outpatient settings. Marks said orthopedics and spine procedures were particularly affected during the second year of the three-year phaseout. HCA believes some consumers may be deferring elective procedures because of economic conditions, inflation, energy costs and other household expenses. Marks characterized this as an early hypothesis and the least significant of the three factors he cited. HCA operates approximately 150 ambulatory surgery centers across its markets. Marks said those facilities support the company’s hospital-centered network strategy and provide a site of care when procedures transition from inpatient to outpatient settings.
He said the company continues to target long-term equivalent-admission growth of 2% to 3%, supported by capital investment, acquisitions and network optimization across 43 markets in 19 states. HCA’s markets, primarily located in the Southeast and Southwest, generally have above-average population growth, stronger economic performance and higher employer-sponsored insurance coverage, Marks said.
Capital investment and operating efficiency HCA has averaged roughly 600 bed additions annually in recent years, Marks said. The company’s occupancy rate remains in the low- to mid-70% range, and management is balancing bed expansion with efforts to improve patient throughput and reduce length of stay.
Marks said improving length of stay is “the cheapest way to add capital capacity” because it can increase available capacity without requiring additional capital spending. HCA is also investing in operating rooms, emergency department capacity, service lines and outpatient facilities.
The company has increased its outpatient footprint from an average of 12 outpatient facilities per hospital at its 2023 investor day to more than 14 currently. Marks said HCA’s longer-term goal is to reach about 20 outpatient facilities per hospital by the end of the decade.
Cost discipline remains another component of HCA’s outlook. Marks said the company’s resiliency plan generated favorable cost-management results in the second quarter and is expected to contribute more meaningfully in the second half. The program focuses on revenue integrity, asset utilization, variable costs and fixed costs.
HCA has also invested in technology, processes and staffing to address claim denials and underpayments. Marks said the company is working with several large payer partners on digital data exchange and reducing administrative friction in the claims process.
Long-term outlook Looking beyond the current reform cycle, Marks said HCA expects to manage additional exchange-related pressure in 2027, though he does not expect it to be as severe as in 2026. The company also expects to navigate Medicaid work requirements scheduled to begin in January 2027.
Marks reiterated HCA’s longer-term framework of 4% to 6% top-line revenue growth and at least stable margins, which would support a similar range of EBITDA growth. He said the company’s capital allocation strategy, including share repurchases, could further support earnings-per-share growth.
He identified digital transformation, workforce development, network expansion and financial resiliency as central priorities for the next five years.
About HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA)HCA Healthcare, Inc NYSE: HCA is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Its network provides a broad range of medical services, including emergency care, inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, diagnostic services, and maternity care.
The company also operates ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care facilities, physician practices, and other outpatient locations. HCA Healthcare serves patients through facilities located across the United States, as well as through HCA Healthcare UK, its healthcare operations in the United Kingdom.
HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 by Dr.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA).
Bank of America Corp DE acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 611,601 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $238,457,000. Bank of America Corp DE owned 0.28% of HCA Healthcare at the end of the most recent quarter.
Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at $5,069,974,000. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,262,513,000. Legal & General Group Plc purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth $410,992,000. Jupiter Topco LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at about $371,138,000. Finally, Life Cycle Investment Partners Ltd acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $374,037,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
Analyst Ratings Changes HCA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Cantor Fitzgerald dropped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $588.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. KeyCorp reduced their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $475.00 to $435.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 27th. UBS Group cut their target price on HCA Healthcare from $635.00 to $579.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $476.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Friday, September 4th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $462.64.
Get Our Latest Research Report on HCA HCA Healthcare Trading Up 1.7% Shares of HCA stock opened at $431.18 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $93.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.43 and a beta of 1.10. The business’s 50 day moving average is $405.60 and its two-hundred day moving average is $430.49. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a twelve month low of $353.99 and a twelve month high of $556.52.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.HCA Healthcare’s revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.84 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.
HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be given a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.45%.
HCA Healthcare Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:HCA) is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Its network provides a broad range of medical services, including emergency care, inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, diagnostic services, and maternity care.
The company also operates ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care facilities, physician practices, and other outpatient locations. HCA Healthcare serves patients through facilities located across the United States, as well as through HCA Healthcare UK, its healthcare operations in the United Kingdom.
HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 by Dr.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA), one of the nation's leading healthcare providers, today announced that it has completed the previously announced acquisition of The College of Health Care Professions (CHCP). As communities grow and healthcare needs continue to evolve, developing the next generation of caregivers is essential to helping ensure patients have access to the skilled healthcare professionals they need. The acquisition of CHCP builds on HCA Healthcar.
34 hospitals in the Capital and North Florida divisions now live as part of enterprise-wide rollout
CANTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MEDITECH announced it has completed implementation of its Expanse electronic health record (EHR) platform across 34 hospitals in HCA Healthcare’s Capital and North Florida divisions, making them the first two of the organization’s U.S. divisions to fully implement the platform. HCA Healthcare, one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services, has 15 U.S. divisions. Its Capital Division includes 18 hospitals across Virginia and New Hampshire, and its North Florida Division includes 16 hospitals across Florida.
We’re excited to share that 34 hospitals across HCA Healthcare’s Capital and North Florida divisions are now live on @MEDITECH Expanse. This brings the total number of HCA Healthcare hospitals running Expanse across the U.S. and U.K. to 72.
Share This latest milestone builds on the initial large-scale rollout, which began with the first wave of enterprise-wide deployment and 22 hospitals that went live in 2025. As of the latest implementation group in August 2026, HCA Healthcare has 72 hospitals across its network in the U.S. and U.K. running on the MEDITECH Expanse platform. HCA Healthcare is rolling out MEDITECH Expanse in waves at additional facilities across its network in the U.S. and U.K., with the next group of hospitals planned to go live in October 2026.
MEDITECH Expanse is a cloud-based system designed to create workflow efficiencies and enhance care coordination. With an intuitive, mobile-friendly interface, personalized workflows, embedded clinical decision support and AI capabilities, the system helps clinicians access information, make informed clinical decisions and enhance safety, quality and efficiency at the bedside and beyond.
“Every successful Expanse go-live is an important step toward a more connected and consistent care environment across HCA Healthcare,” said Dr. Jake O’Shea, HCA Healthcare’s vice president and chief health information officer. “By strengthening the foundation for our clinicians, our data and our care processes, we can help create opportunities to optimize workflows and share new insights that help our clinicians deliver care more effectively to every patient we serve.”
As a learning health system, HCA Healthcare uses data from approximately 47 million annual patient encounters to identify insights, develop best practices and continually improve care. MEDITECH Expanse further supports this data-driven approach by helping provide a standard foundation for clinical information and workflows. The platform is designed to help clinicians access information more efficiently and support informed decisions at the point of care.
“For more than 30 years, HCA Healthcare has joined us in a shared commitment to advancing healthcare, and we’re proud to support its continued progress,” said MEDITECH Vice President Joe Coughlin. “We look forward to seeing HCA Healthcare build on this foundation to use data, technology and innovation in new ways that strengthen care delivery and create meaningful benefits for clinicians and patients.”
About MEDITECH
MEDITECH empowers healthcare organizations to expand their vision of what’s possible with Expanse, the intelligent EHR. Expanse provides a future-ready foundation for health systems of all sizes, leveraging the power of AI, cloud computing, and advanced interoperability to support world-class care in 28 countries and territories. Boost clinician satisfaction, patient engagement, and organizational efficiency. Visit ehr.meditech.com and follow us on YouTube, LinkedIn, X, Facebook, Instagram, and Threads.
, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
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Luboš Bedrník
Fio banka, a.s.
Prohlášení
HB Wealth Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 16.6% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,446 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,282 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $2,513,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
A number of other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Saudi Central Bank raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 85.8% during the second quarter. Saudi Central Bank now owns 10,955 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,271,000 after purchasing an additional 5,059 shares in the last quarter. AlphaGrep UK Ltd acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,079,000. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 6.4% in the second quarter. Premier Path Wealth Partners LLC now owns 2,450 shares of the company’s stock valued at $955,000 after buying an additional 148 shares during the period. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 14.5% during the second quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,197 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,246,000 after acquiring an additional 404 shares during the period. Finally, NEOS Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 12.0% in the 2nd quarter. NEOS Investment Management LLC now owns 25,349 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,883,000 after acquiring an additional 2,724 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
HCA Healthcare Stock Down 0.8% Shares of NYSE:HCA opened at $401.80 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of $86.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.45, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.10. The company’s fifty day moving average is $403.82 and its two-hundred day moving average is $434.97. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12-month low of $353.99 and a 12-month high of $556.52.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The business had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $6.84 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 earnings per share for the current year. HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.45%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research firms recently commented on HCA. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $476.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, July 27th. TD Cowen dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $431.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Oppenheimer reduced their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Friday. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $462.64.
Read Our Latest Analysis on HCA Healthcare
About HCA Healthcare (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc (NYSE:HCA) is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Its network provides a broad range of medical services, including emergency care, inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, diagnostic services, and maternity care.
The company also operates ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care facilities, physician practices, and other outpatient locations. HCA Healthcare serves patients through facilities located across the United States, as well as through HCA Healthcare UK, its healthcare operations in the United Kingdom.
HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 by Dr.
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HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) and OPKO Health (NASDAQ:OPK – Get Free Report) are both healthcare companies, but which is the better business? We will compare the two companies based on the strength of their earnings, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation, analyst recommendations and dividends.
Valuation & Earnings This table compares HCA Healthcare and OPKO Health”s revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio HCA Healthcare $75.60 billion 1.15 $6.78 billion $29.87 13.45 OPKO Health $606.90 million 1.96 -$225.68 million ($0.09) -17.67 HCA Healthcare has higher revenue and earnings than OPKO Health. OPKO Health is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than HCA Healthcare, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. Profitability This table compares HCA Healthcare and OPKO Health’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets HCA Healthcare 8.77% -244.79% 11.10% OPKO Health -12.40% -5.88% -3.83% Analyst Recommendations This is a breakdown of recent ratings for HCA Healthcare and OPKO Health, as reported by MarketBeat.
Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score HCA Healthcare 1 8 14 0 2.57 OPKO Health 1 3 1 0 2.00 HCA Healthcare currently has a consensus target price of $462.64, indicating a potential upside of 15.14%. OPKO Health has a consensus target price of $1.55, indicating a potential downside of 2.52%. Given HCA Healthcare’s stronger consensus rating and higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe HCA Healthcare is more favorable than OPKO Health.
Volatility & Risk HCA Healthcare has a beta of 1.1, indicating that its share price is 10% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, OPKO Health has a beta of 1.5, indicating that its share price is 50% more volatile than the S&P 500.
Insider and Institutional Ownership 62.7% of HCA Healthcare shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 64.6% of OPKO Health shares are owned by institutional investors. 1.5% of HCA Healthcare shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 44.7% of OPKO Health shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.
Summary HCA Healthcare beats OPKO Health on 9 of the 14 factors compared between the two stocks.
About HCA Healthcare (Get Free Report)
HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy. The company also operates outpatient health care facilities consisting of freestanding ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, physician practices, and various other facilities. In addition, it operates behavioral hospitals, which provide therapeutic programs comprising child, adolescent and adult psychiatric care, adolescent and adult alcohol, drug abuse treatment, and counseling services. The company was formerly known as HCA Holdings, Inc. HCA Healthcare, Inc. was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.
About OPKO Health (Get Free Report)
OPKO Health, Inc., a healthcare company, engages in the diagnostics and pharmaceuticals businesses in the United States, Ireland, Chile, Spain, Israel, Mexico, and internationally. The company's Diagnostics segment operates BioReference Laboratories that offers laboratory testing services for the detection, diagnosis, evaluation, monitoring, and treatment of diseases, including esoteric testing, molecular diagnostics, anatomical pathology, genetics, women's health, and correctional healthcare to physician offices, clinics, hospitals, employers, and governmental units; and 4Kscore prostate cancer test. Its Pharmaceutical segment offers Rayaldee to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism in adults with stage 3 or 4 chronic kidney disease, and vitamin D insufficiency. This segment also develops multi-specific immune therapies focused on oncology, infectious diseases, vaccines, and immunology; OPK88004, an orally administered selective androgen receptor modulator; OPK88003, a once-weekly administered peptide for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and related obesity; Somatrogon (hGH-CTP), a once-weekly human growth hormone injection; and Factor VIIa-CTP, a novel long-acting coagulation factor being developed to treat hemophilia. In addition, it develops and commercializes longer-acting proprietary versions of already approved therapeutic proteins; develops and produces specialty APIs; develops, manufactures, markets, and sells pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, veterinary, and ophthalmic products; commercializes food supplements and over the counter products; manufactures and sells products primarily in the generics market; and markets, distributes, and sells pharmaceutical products in a range of indications, including cardiovascular products, vaccines, antibiotics, gastro-intestinal products, hormones, and others. The company also operates pharmaceutical platforms in Ireland, Chile, Spain, and Mexico. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Miami, Florida.
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NEW YORK, Sept. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
AlphaGrep UK Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 2,767 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,079,000. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional
, /PRNewswire/ -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
NEW YORK, Sept. 01, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of HCA Healthcare, Inc. ("HCA" or the "Company") (NYSE: HCA). Such investors are advised to contact Danielle Peyton at [email protected] or 646-581-9980, ext. 7980.
The investigation concerns whether HCA and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices.
[Click here for information about joining the class action]
On July 14, 2026, HCA issued a press release reporting its preliminary financial and operating results for the second quarter of 2026. Among other items, HCA sharply lowered its full-2026 profit guidance, citing an unfavorable shift in the Company's payer mix, which impacted revenue by approximately $400 million in the quarter.
On this news, HCA's stock price fell $27.14 per share, or 6.95%, to close at $363.60 per share on July 14, 2026.
Pomerantz LLP, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, Paris, and Tel Aviv, is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, Pomerantz pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 85 years later, Pomerantz continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomlaw.com.
Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.
On August 25, 2026, we conducted a DCF analysis for HCA Healthcare Inc HCA, a company that has shown varied price performance recently. The stock has experienced a 6.0% increase over the past week and a 12.3% rise over the past month, although it is down 7.7% year-to-date. Over the past year, HCA has gained 6.7%.
DCF Earnings-based intrinsic value of $784.86 vs current price of $429.24 (margin of safety: 45.3%) DCF Free Cash Flow-based intrinsic value of $666.74 (second opinion) GF Score™ of 87/100 indicates a strong reliability of the DCF inputs What Is HCA Worth? DCF Earnings-Based Model In our DCF earnings-based model, we assume a two-stage growth approach. The first stage spans the next ten years, where we project an annual growth rate of 17.5% for earnings per share (EPS). The second stage accounts for a terminal growth rate of 4% for the subsequent ten years. The discount rate applied is 11%, which is derived from the sum of the risk-free rate and equity risk premium.
Parameter Value Current EPS (TTM, excl. non-recurring) $29.70 10-Year Growth Rate 17.5% 10-Year Treasury Rate 4.67% Discount Rate (ceil(Treasury) + 6%) 11% Terminal Growth Rate 4% The calculation summary for the two stages is as follows:
Stage Description Value Growth Stage (Years 1-10) EPS growing at 17.5%, discounted at 11% $411.66 Terminal Stage (Years 11-20) 4% terminal growth, discounted at 11% $373.20 Intrinsic Value Growth + Terminal $784.86 With a current price of $429.24, HCA is significantly undervalued, presenting a margin of safety of 45.3%. It is important to note that GuruFocus utilizes EPS excluding non-recurring items, as research indicates a stronger correlation between stock prices and earnings than with free cash flow. For more details, you can visit the HCA DCF Calculator.
What Does the Free Cash Flow DCF Say? The Free Cash Flow (FCF)-based intrinsic value for HCA is calculated at $666.74. This figure aligns with the earnings-based valuation, further supporting the conclusion that HCA is significantly undervalued, with a margin of safety of 35.6%.
How Does GF Value™ Compare to the DCF Models? According to GuruFocus, the GF Value™ for HCA is $458.79, indicating that the stock is 6.4% undervalued. This proprietary measure is derived from historical trading multiples, past business growth, and future performance estimates. All three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—concur that HCA is undervalued, reinforcing the investment thesis. For further insights, check out the GF Value™.
What Does HCA's GF Score™ Tell Us? The GF Score™ evaluates a company's financial strength, profitability, growth potential, valuation, and momentum. HCA has a GF Score™ of 87/100, which suggests a strong overall performance. However, the predictability rank is 2 out of 5 stars, indicating that the DCF model may be less reliable for this stock due to its lower predictability. Below is a summary of HCA's GF Score™ metrics:
Metric Rating GF Score™ 87/100 Financial Strength 4/10 Profitability 10/10 Growth 10/10 Valuation 10/10 Momentum 2/10 For more details on HCA, visit the HCA stock page.
Key Assumptions and Limitations It is important to recognize that DCF models are highly sensitive to the assumptions made regarding growth and discount rates. Stocks with lower predictability ratings, like HCA, yield less reliable DCF estimates. The terminal growth rate of 4% is a simplifying assumption that may not fully capture future economic conditions.
What This Means for Investors In summary, all three valuation models—DCF earnings, DCF FCF, and GF Value™—indicate that HCA is significantly undervalued. The consensus among these models suggests a strong investment opportunity, although the lower predictability rank should be taken into account. Additionally, the guru ownership signal is noteworthy, with 13 gurus currently holding the stock, 9 of whom have increased their positions, while insiders have sold a total of $32.7 million over the past year. This mixed signal from insiders and gurus adds another layer of complexity to the investment decision. For further analysis, you can explore the HCA DCF Calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions What is HCA's intrinsic value based on DCF?
HCA's intrinsic value is $784.86 based on the earnings model and $666.74 based on the free cash flow model.
Is HCA overvalued or undervalued?
HCA is considered significantly undervalued based on both DCF models and the GF Value™.
How reliable is the DCF model for HCA?
The DCF model's reliability for HCA is limited, given its predictability rank of 2 out of 5 stars.
This stock alert was generated using automated technology and GuruFocus financial data to provide readers with timely and accurate market reporting. This content was reviewed by GuruFocus editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to [email protected].
Disclosures I/We may personally own shares in some of the companies mentioned above. However, those positions are not material to either the company or to my/our portfolios.
Key Takeaways HCA's cost-control progress is helping offset inflation and protect profitability amid earnings headwinds.HCA is using digital transformation and shared services to drive recurring productivity gains.HCA targets 4-6% long-term adjusted EBITDA growth as unit-cost control supports volume growth. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA - Free Report) faces a significant earnings headwind from health insurance exchange disenrollment, with the company estimating a $1.0-$1.2 billion unfavorable impact in 2026. At the same time, professional fees and other operating costs remain elevated. Against this backdrop, its multi-year resiliency program is becoming an important tool for strengthening financial performance.
Same-facility cost per equivalent admission was essentially flat year over year in the second quarter and improved 1.4% sequentially. The combined cost of salaries and benefits, supplies, and other operating expenses per adjusted admission was only flat to slightly higher than a year earlier. This suggests that HCA is gaining greater control over its underlying cost base, even as the operating environment remains challenging. The progress is important because better cost control can help HCA offset inflation and protect profitability.
HCA’s investments in digital transformation, global capabilities and expanded shared services could support recurring productivity gains and reduce reliance on temporary cost-cutting measures. That matters as elective surgery remains pressured by affordability concerns, while changes in payer mix weigh on earnings.
If these initiatives consistently deliver productivity improvements, the resiliency program transitions from an emergency buffer into a durable margin driver. The ability to keep unit costs in check while maintaining volume growth could become an increasingly important contributor to HCA’s targeted 4-6% long-term adjusted EBITDA growth.
How Do Peers Compare?HCA is not alone in prioritizing operational efficiency. Medical peers such as Tenet Healthcare Corporation (THC - Free Report) and Universal Health Services, Inc. (UHS - Free Report) are also pursuing efficiency initiatives and expanding outpatient capabilities to drive growth and profitability.
Tenet Healthcare has strengthened profitability through operational discipline and a growing ambulatory-care platform. THC’s focus on efficiency, higher-acuity care and portfolio optimization strengthens earnings resilience and supports healthier margins.
Universal Health continues to emphasize disciplined cost management and operational efficiency across its hospital and behavioral-health businesses. UHS’ ability to control expenses while sustaining earnings growth makes its margin resilience an important factor for investors tracking healthcare operators.
HCA’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of HCA Healthcare have gained 3.8% over the past year compared with the industry's 12.8% growth over the same period.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, HCA trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 13.44X, down from the industry average of 16.69X. HCA carries a Value Score of A.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for HCA’s 2026 earnings is pegged at $29.42 per share, implying a 4.3% jump from the year-ago period’s level.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
HCA currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Bank of Nova Scotia acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) in the second quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 47,381 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,473,000.
Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth about $5,069,974,000. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,566,643 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,532,563,000 after buying an additional 76,039 shares during the period. Capital World Investors increased its position in HCA Healthcare by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,999,422 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,334,040,000 after acquiring an additional 40,086 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in HCA Healthcare by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,663,705 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,702,738,000 after acquiring an additional 13,565 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter valued at $1,262,513,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
HCA Healthcare Stock Down 0.0% Shares of HCA Healthcare stock opened at $429.08 on Monday. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12-month low of $353.99 and a 12-month high of $556.52. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.90 billion, a PE ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.10. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $397.16 and its 200-day moving average is $443.77.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $6.84 EPS. Analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 EPS for the current year. HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is presently 10.45%.
Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several equities analysts have commented on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings cut HCA Healthcare from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Tuesday, June 9th. Sanford C. Bernstein reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Stephens dropped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $530.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $369.00 to $381.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $462.64.
View Our Latest Report on HCA
HCA Healthcare Company Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare is a for‑profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.
The company’s core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA’s services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.
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B. Metzler seel. Sohn & Co. AG bought a new position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 10,563 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $4,118,000.
Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter worth $26,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 213.0% in the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MidFirst Bank acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.
HCA Healthcare Price Performance NYSE:HCA opened at $429.08 on Friday. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 1 year low of $353.99 and a 1 year high of $556.52. The company has a market cap of $92.90 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.36, a P/E/G ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.10. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $397.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $444.14.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The company had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $6.84 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be given a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is currently 10.45%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their target price on HCA Healthcare from $588.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $495.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Sanford C. Bernstein reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, July 15th. Finally, Wall Street Zen cut shares of HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $462.64.
View Our Latest Stock Report on HCA
HCA Healthcare Company Profile (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare is a for‑profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.
The company’s core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA’s services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.
Read More Five stocks we like better than HCA Healthcare Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates?
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Advisors Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) in the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 6,507 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,537,000.
Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in HCA. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $5,069,974,000. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,262,513,000. Life Cycle Investment Partners Ltd acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth about $374,037,000. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 58.5% in the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 1,872,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $717,214,000 after acquiring an additional 690,773 shares during the period. Finally, Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. grew its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 4,545.5% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 663,337 shares of the company’s stock worth $309,686,000 after purchasing an additional 649,058 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.
HCA Healthcare Stock Performance NYSE:HCA opened at $429.08 on Friday. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a one year low of $353.99 and a one year high of $556.52. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $397.16 and its 200 day simple moving average is $444.14. The stock has a market cap of $92.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 1.10.
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.HCA Healthcare’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.84 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 EPS for the current year. HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 10.45%.
Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of analysts have recently commented on HCA shares. Stephens cut their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $530.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $435.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Truist Financial lowered their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $495.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Oppenheimer decreased their target price on HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $462.64.
Get Our Latest Stock Report on HCA
About HCA Healthcare (Free Report)
HCA Healthcare is a for‑profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.
The company’s core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA’s services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.
Read More Five stocks we like better than HCA Healthcare Blueprint for a Boom: SEC Clears the Crypto Runway Ross Stores Just Flipped the Off-Price Retail Story After TJX’s Marmaxx Miss Advance Auto Parts Plunged, But Its Turnaround Is Still Working Is Palo Alto Networks Priced for Perfection Again as AI Security Demand Accelerates? Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HCA? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report).
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NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) is scheduled to present at the following healthcare conferences:
September 9, 2026, at 10:15am ET at the Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference
September 15, 2026, at 1:50pm CT at the Jefferies Healthcare Conference
A link to the live audio webcast, where applicable, and copies of any related presentation materials will be made available at the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.hcahealthcare.com.
Dates and times may be subject to change, please check the conference schedule or the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website for the latest information.
About HCA Healthcare
Nashville-based HCA Healthcare is one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services comprising 190 hospitals and approximately 2,600 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding ERs, urgent care centers, and physician clinics, in 19 states and the United Kingdom.
All references to “Company” and “HCA” as used throughout this release refer to HCA Healthcare, Inc. and its affiliates.
