HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03, Briefing.com reports. The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.89% and a negative return on equity of 295.93%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.84 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from HCA Healthcare’s conference call:

• HCA said the expiration of enhanced premium tax credits drove a bigger-than-expected payer mix shift, with exchange admissions down 15% and most of those patients moving almost one-for-one to uninsured.
• The company reported 11% diluted EPS growth in both the quarter and year to date, even as adjusted EBITDA was pressured by coverage losses and higher uncompensated care.
• Underlying demand remained solid, with ER visits up 3.6% and insured volumes excluding exchanges increasing, while HCA expects long-term demand growth of 2%-3% supported by population trends.
• Management highlighted over $7 billion of capital expenditures and continued network expansion, including new beds and outpatient facilities, as part of a strategy to grow capacity and market share.
• HCA updated full-year guidance to Adjusted EBITDA of $15.4 billion-$16.1 billion and said its resiliency program, cost discipline, and Medicaid supplemental payments should help offset some of the exchange headwind in the back half of 2026.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 2.0%

Shares of NYSE:HCA traded up $7.61 during trading on Friday, hitting $384.11. 873,230 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,326,738. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $387.76 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $454.23. The company has a market cap of $85.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.25 and a beta of 1.12. HCA Healthcare has a 52-week low of $330.00 and a 52-week high of $556.52.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HCA. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $1,021,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC boosted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 11.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,334,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares during the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC boosted its position in HCA Healthcare by 5.5% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 630 shares of the company’s stock worth $241,000 after acquiring an additional 33 shares during the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,073,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 56.3% in the 2nd quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 136,589 shares of the company’s stock worth $52,328,000 after acquiring an additional 49,214 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $540.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 28th. Stephens lowered their target price on HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $530.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, April 27th. TD Cowen cut their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $431.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Argus reduced their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $500.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 4th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $483.45.

About HCA Healthcare

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.