Kiltearn Partners LLP Sells 5,100 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Kiltearn Partners LLP trimmed its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 9.3% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 49,700 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,100 shares during the quarter. HCA Healthcare accounts for approximately 2.5% of Kiltearn Partners LLP’s holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest holding. Kiltearn Partners LLP’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $14,917,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. MML Investors Services LLC increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 31.7% in the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 17,816 shares of the company’s stock worth $7,241,000 after buying an additional 4,285 shares during the period. Meritage Group LP acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth $150,548,000. Galvin Gaustad & Stein LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth about $18,044,000. NRI Wealth Management LC purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,896,000. Finally, Czech National Bank lifted its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 4.5% in the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 39,543 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,869,000 after purchasing an additional 1,691 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other HCA Healthcare news, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 9,533 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $322.59, for a total value of $3,075,250.47. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 15,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,971,757.08. This trade represents a 38.22 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on HCA shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a “neutral” rating and issued a $380.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $405.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Bank of America lowered their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $405.00 to $384.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $430.00 to $390.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $385.67.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

HCA opened at $341.94 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $323.90 and a 200-day moving average of $341.86. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $84.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a PEG ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.68. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12-month low of $289.98 and a 12-month high of $417.14.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The company reported $6.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.03 by $0.19. HCA Healthcare had a return on equity of 586.47% and a net margin of 8.16%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $5.90 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 EPS for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. This is a positive change from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.84%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 13.11%.

HCA Healthcare Profile

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.