Brokerages Set HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Price Target at $485.95

Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) have been given a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” by the twenty-five analysts that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, nine have given a hold recommendation and fifteen have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $487.00.

Several brokerages have issued reports on HCA. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $425.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Monday, December 15th. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, December 29th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $465.00 to $475.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $470.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $445.00 to $494.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners raised its price target on HCA to $507 and kept an “outperform” rating, signaling analyst confidence in HCA’s earnings trajectory and providing a near-term valuation upside catalyst. Leerink Partners lifts price target on HCA Healthcare to $507
• Positive Sentiment: HCA plans to operate 81 freestanding emergency departments in Florida by the end of Q1, reflecting measurable expansion of outpatient / ED capacity that can drive admissions and higher-margin volumes. HCA to have 81 freestanding EDs in Florida by end of Q1
• Positive Sentiment: Regional partnership expansion in Tennessee positions HCA for market share and referral network growth in a fast-growing region. These deals support medium-term revenue expansion without full hospital acquisitions. Tennessee systems to deepen partnership as HCA eyes growth in region
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA promoted Erica Rossitto to chief nurse executive (effective Feb. 1), strengthening nursing leadership for HCA’s 100,000+ nurses — governance/operational news that supports execution but is not an immediate earnings driver. HCA Healthcare Names Erica Rossitto as Chief Nurse Executive
• Neutral Sentiment: Local executive moves (interim chief nurse at an HCA Missouri hospital and other chief nursing appointments) are operational-level items with limited near-term market impact. HCA Missouri hospital names interim chief nurse
• Neutral Sentiment: Third-party health-tech and regional care updates (Medical City Plano CFO change, Memorial Health CT adoption) mentioned in the newsfeed are industry context but not direct HCA drivers. Healthcare Briefs: Medical City Plano’s New CFO and Cariloop’s Partnership With Raymond James
• Negative Sentiment: L1 Capital trimmed its HCA position, citing share-price appreciation; portfolio selling from a notable fund can create near-term supply pressure and contribute to today’s down move. L1 Capital Trimmed HCA Healthcare Due to Share Price Appreciation

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other HCA Healthcare news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total transaction of $1,843,990.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,487 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,652,105.73. This trade represents a 52.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of HCA Healthcare

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of HCA. Capital World Investors raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3.8% in the 3rd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,959,336 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,113,662,000 after acquiring an additional 179,443 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter worth about $1,152,408,000. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,065,225 shares of the company’s stock valued at $880,199,000 after buying an additional 36,414 shares in the last quarter. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its position in HCA Healthcare by 58.5% during the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 1,872,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $717,214,000 after acquiring an additional 690,773 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Legal & General Group Plc grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 0.8% in the third quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 1,124,511 shares of the company’s stock worth $479,267,000 after purchasing an additional 8,478 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

HCA stock opened at $469.08 on Thursday. HCA Healthcare has a fifty-two week low of $295.00 and a fifty-two week high of $520.00. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $480.49 and a 200 day moving average price of $430.73. The firm has a market cap of $107.04 billion, a PE ratio of 18.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.36.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $6.96 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $5.64 by $1.32. The firm had revenue of $19.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.55 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 792.25% and a net margin of 8.53%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $4.90 EPS. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2025 guidance at 27.000-28.000 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that HCA Healthcare will post 24.98 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were given a dividend of $0.72 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 11.13%.

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.