HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock Price Up 5.3% – Time to Buy?

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) shares traded up 5.3% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $420.92 and last traded at $423.2920. 1,040,048 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 22% from the average session volume of 1,334,584 shares. The stock had previously closed at $402.02.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Mizuho decreased their price target on HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $475.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, July 28th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Friday, September 4th. KeyCorp decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $475.00 to $435.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 27th. Robert W. Baird cut their target price on HCA Healthcare from $396.00 to $393.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 price target on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $462.64.

HCA Healthcare Trading Up 1.4%

The company has a market cap of $92.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.39 and a beta of 1.10. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $404.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $433.45.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (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 company 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 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The company 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 dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is 10.45%.

Institutional Trading of HCA Healthcare

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. MidFirst Bank acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at about $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth approximately $29,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

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.