Hartford Investment Management Co. Trims Holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Hartford Investment Management Co. trimmed its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 11,295 shares of the company’s stock after selling 399 shares during the period. Hartford Investment Management Co.’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $3,390,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth about $39,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Canoe Financial LP acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Finally, Friedenthal Financial acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at approximately $50,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of HCA Healthcare stock opened at $312.55 on Thursday. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 52 week low of $289.98 and a 52 week high of $417.14. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $313.49 and its 200-day simple moving average is $353.04. The firm has a market cap of $79.17 billion, a PE ratio of 14.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The company reported $6.22 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 period last year, the firm posted $5.90 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. 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 yield of 0.92%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 12.02%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $400.00 to $320.00 in a report on Monday, November 25th. TD Cowen lowered their price target on HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $405.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Bank of America lowered their price target on HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $385.67.

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.