HCA Healthcare’s (HCA) “Outperform” Rating Reiterated at Leerink Partners

Leerink Partners reissued their outperform rating on shares of HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) in a research report released on Friday morning,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a $492.00 price objective on the stock.

A number of other research firms also recently commented on HCA. Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $476.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $495.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $462.27.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of HCA opened at $427.78 on Friday. HCA Healthcare has a fifty-two week low of $353.99 and a fifty-two week high of $556.52. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $406.43 and a two-hundred day moving average of $429.05. The company has a market capitalization of $92.62 billion, a PE ratio of 14.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $6.84 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare will post 29.42 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be 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 is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is presently 10.45%.

Institutional Trading of HCA Healthcare

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 1st quarter worth about $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC grew its stake in HCA Healthcare by 213.0% in the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Finally, Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the fourth quarter worth $35,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting HCA Healthcare this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners reaffirmed its “outperform” rating and set a $492 price target, implying roughly 15% upside from the referenced share price. Jefferies also maintained its Buy rating, while other analysts reportedly reaffirmed constructive targets. These endorsements provide support for the stock’s valuation and long-term outlook.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism likely reflects HCA’s recent operating performance: quarterly revenue increased 8.7% year over year to $20.23 billion, while adjusted earnings exceeded consensus expectations.
• Neutral Sentiment: The HCA Healthcare Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Feeding Southwest Virginia. The contribution supports HCA’s community-relations efforts but is unlikely to materially affect earnings or valuation.
• Negative Sentiment: HCA’s chief financial officer said patients owe more while paying less amid economic strain, raising concerns about higher bad debt, collection costs and weaker cash conversion. HCA CFO: Patients owe more, pay less amid economic strain
• Negative Sentiment: HCA is suing Independence Blue Cross over denied claims and prior-authorization disputes. The litigation could help recover unpaid revenue, but it also underscores payer friction and may increase legal and administrative costs. HCA sues Independence Blue Cross over denied claims
• Negative Sentiment: Management reported a slowdown in elective surgeries as insurance coverage erodes. Reduced procedure volumes could pressure hospital revenue and profitability, particularly if patients defer nonurgent care. HCA sees elective surgery slowdown
• Negative Sentiment: The CFO acknowledged HCA is behind insurers in deploying artificial intelligence for claims processing, suggesting potential disadvantages in reimbursement management and denial prevention. HCA CFO on claims AI
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz announced an investigation into potential investor claims involving HCA. Although the announcement does not establish wrongdoing, it adds headline and litigation risk. Pomerantz investor investigation

About HCA Healthcare

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.