HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Stock Has Average Price Target of $480.13

Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the twenty-four analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and sixteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $480.13.

Several research firms have weighed in on HCA. KeyCorp boosted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $435.00 to $490.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $635.00 to $579.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered 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. Bank of America raised their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 28th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 20th.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

Investors following HCA have been watching these headlines:

• Negative Sentiment: Medicaid policy is a risk to earnings: HCA expects $550 million to $650 million less in Medicaid supplemental payment benefits in 2027, potentially adding reimbursement pressure. Value stocks offer a different path forward
• Negative Sentiment: A senior vice president reportedly sold about $1.77 million in HCA shares. Insider sales can weigh on sentiment, although a sale alone does not establish a negative outlook. Insider selling at HCA Healthcare
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into claims on behalf of HCA investors. The announcement does not establish wrongdoing, but the added legal uncertainty could concern investors. Pomerantz investigation announcement

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 0.4%

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $498.82 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $104.20 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.70, a PEG ratio of 1.67 and a beta of 1.11. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $452.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $445.91. HCA Healthcare has a 52-week low of $353.99 and a 52-week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $7.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.65 by $0.57. The business had revenue of $19.85 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.33 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 198.52% and a net margin of 8.61%. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $6.96 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare will post 30.14 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 29th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 15th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.34%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Michael J. Schlosser sold 1,200 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $494.65, for a total transaction of $593,580.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 1,443 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $713,779.95. The trade was a 45.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Erica Rossitto sold 3,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, November 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.81, for a total value of $1,770,335.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president owned 13,426 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,791,005.06. This trade represents a 20.68% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders have sold 36,413 shares of company stock worth $18,251,464. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HCA. Cornermen Financial LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at about $222,000. Empowered Funds LLC grew its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 25,560 shares of the company’s stock worth $10,907,000 after purchasing an additional 1,384 shares during the last quarter. Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. IL raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 10.9% in the 3rd quarter. Roberts Glore & Co. Inc. IL now owns 1,683 shares of the company’s stock worth $718,000 after purchasing an additional 166 shares in the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund lifted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 33.3% during the third quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 226,189 shares of the company’s stock valued at $96,524,000 after purchasing an additional 56,480 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 23.5% during the third quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 3,208 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,369,000 after purchasing an additional 611 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other care facilities. Its services include inpatient and outpatient care, emergency treatment, surgery, diagnostic services and specialized care across areas such as cancer and cardiovascular medicine. The company serves patients in the United States and the United Kingdom through its network of hospitals and outpatient facilities, including surgery centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices. Founded in 1968, HCA Healthcare is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.