Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Sells 5,161 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lowered its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 3.3% during the fourth quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 152,027 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,161 shares during the quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $73,545,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the third quarter worth $26,000. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 82.9% during the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 75 shares of the company’s stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the period. JPL Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Aventura Private Wealth LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HCA has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen cut HCA Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 14th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $541.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, February 9th. KeyCorp set a $503.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $555.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $558.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $537.73.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Christopher F. Wyatt sold 4,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $505.00, for a total value of $2,020,000.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 44,379 shares in the company, valued at $22,411,395. The trade was a 8.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 1,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $498.09, for a total value of $747,135.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president owned 30,003 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,944,194.27. The trade was a 4.76% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 15,214 shares of company stock worth $7,797,595. 1.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

HCA Healthcare News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer publicly recommended buying HCA, calling it a buy in “big clumps,” which can drive retail interest and short‑term inflows. Jim Cramer on HCA Healthcare
• Positive Sentiment: HCA hospitals received regional/national recognition (Ocala hospitals praised for patient safety; HCA Florida North Florida Hospital named to America’s 250 Best Hospitals), which supports brand, referrals and patient volumes. Ocala hospitals honored for excellence in patient safety
• Positive Sentiment: HCA Florida North Florida Hospital included among America’s 250 Best Hospitals, reinforcing quality credentials that can protect pricing and payer relationships. HCA Florida North Florida Hospital among America’s 250 Best Hospitals
• Positive Sentiment: Virginia regulators approved new hospitals/expansions that include HCA projects, supporting medium‑term revenue growth and market share in that region. State approves three Chesterfield hospital projects
• Neutral Sentiment: Human-interest coverage (a North Carolina NICU St. Patrick’s Day feature) highlights community care but is unlikely to move the stock materially. North Carolina NICU Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
• Negative Sentiment: HCA’s board urged shareholders to reject a proposal for fuller reporting on the aftermath of the 2019 Mission sale — a governance/oversight flashpoint that can raise investor concern and activist interest. HCA board urges shareholders to reject proposal
• Negative Sentiment: An HCA hospital CEO is leaving for Beth Israel Lahey Health — an executive departure that may be seen as local leadership turnover and could modestly concern investors about continuity in affected markets. HCA hospital CEO heads to Beth Israel Lahey Health

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

NYSE:HCA opened at $493.61 on Monday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $510.01 and its 200 day simple moving average is $474.02. The company has a market cap of $110.35 billion, a PE ratio of 17.39, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.34. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a one year low of $314.43 and a one year high of $556.52.

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

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. This is an increase from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is presently 10.99%.

HCA Healthcare 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.