HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Reaches New 1-Year High – Here’s Why

Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $529.53 and last traded at $527.6130, with a volume of 841332 shares. The stock had previously closed at $502.05.

Key HCA Healthcare News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple near‑ and medium‑term EPS forecasts for HCA (several quarters in 2026–2027 and FY2027/FY2028), increasing FY2027 to $33.44 and FY2028 to $37.67 — a sign analysts expect stronger profitability ahead, which supports valuation expansion and likely contributed to today’s upside.
• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s recent reported quarter beat EPS expectations and the company provided FY2026 guidance (29.10–31.50 EPS), which underpins analyst upgrades and investor confidence in the company’s core hospital and outpatient earnings power.
• Positive Sentiment: Becker’s: HCA’s outpatient expansion is reshaping its care network — growth in outpatient services can increase revenue per visit, lower costs versus inpatient care, and improve long‑term margins if execution remains strong. HCA’s outpatient boom reshapes its care network
• Neutral Sentiment: AmeriPro Health expanded Florida operations with a new interfacility transport partnership — incremental operational partnerships can improve patient flow to HCA facilities but are likely immaterial to near‑term earnings. AmeriPro Health expands Fla. operations with new interfacility transport partnership
• Neutral Sentiment: Becker’s: HCA Missouri named a new chief nurse — routine leadership changes typically have limited immediate financial impact but matter for operational execution. HCA Missouri hospital taps chief nurse
• Neutral Sentiment: Local PR: HCA leaders participated in a Habitat for Humanity build spotlighting community health — positive for reputation and local engagement but unlikely to move earnings near term. HCA Healthcare leaders join Habitat build
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q1 2026 EPS estimate slightly (from $7.04 to $6.93) — a modest near‑term downward revision that signals some caution around early‑year volume/mix or margins, though it appears outweighed by the broader upgrades elsewhere.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

HCA has been the topic of several research reports. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $452.00 to $481.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $494.00 to $551.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Morgan Stanley cut HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $425.00 price target for the company. in a research report on Monday, December 15th. Mizuho set a $540.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, February 2nd. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $546.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $523.27.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 5.8%

The firm’s 50-day moving average is $479.90 and its 200-day moving average is $445.63. The company has a market capitalization of $121.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.36.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $8.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.37 by $0.64. The firm had revenue of $19.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.67 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 409.11% and a net margin of 8.97%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.22 EPS. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.99%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other HCA Healthcare news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 1,500 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $498.09, for a total value of $747,135.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 30,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,944,194.27. The trade was a 4.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 1.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $1,021,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 11.9% during the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,334,000 after purchasing an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC increased its position in HCA Healthcare by 5.5% during the 2nd quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 630 shares of the company’s stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL increased its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 5.0% during the second quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 9,000 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,448,000 after acquiring an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in HCA Healthcare by 4.3% during the 2nd quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 2,235 shares of the company’s stock valued at $856,000 after purchasing an additional 93 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

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.