DailyIQ
|
Sector:HealthcareAll sectors
Last updated 2 minutes ago

HCA·HCA Healthcare, Inc.

$.
-. (-.%)
After Hours
High
$392.00
Open
$354.35
Market Cap
87.72B
52W High
$556.52
Low
$349.27
P. Close
$363.62
P/E
12.91
52W Low
$330.00
Fwd P/E
10.99
DailyIQ Est.
$505.42
Technical Score (1D)
14
SELL
News Sentiment
40
BEARISH
Right Tail Capital’s Q2 2026 investor letter underscored HCA’s attractive valuation and solid earnings trajectory, highlighting disciplined cost control and expansion into high‑demand markets; this suggests a potential upside for the next 1–10 trading days. The letter’s emphasis on a resilient earnings outlook implies that HCA could outperform peers amid the broader healthcare rally, so traders should watch the upcoming earnings guidance for confirmation of that trajectory. Wells Fargo’s recent price‑target cut from $436 to $428 reflects a modest reassessment of HCA’s valuation relative to its peers, indicating that the market may be slightly tightening on the upside. This modest downgrade signals a potential short‑term pullback, so watch for any further rating changes or sector‑wide regulatory updates that could influence sentiment. Both reports point to regulatory approvals for new facilities as a key watch item; any delay or acceleration in approvals could materially affect earnings momentum. The combination of cost‑control discipline and expansion into high‑demand markets also positions HCA to benefit from rising healthcare demand, so monitor macro‑economic indicators that could impact patient volumes. Additionally, keep an eye on the broader healthcare sector’s earnings season, as peer performance often sways HCA’s relative valuation. Finally, watch for any changes in healthcare policy or reimbursement rates, as these could alter the cost‑benefit balance for HCA’s operating model.
Earnings Summary
HCA Healthcare, a leading U.S. provider of inpatient and outpatient medical services, operates an extensive network of hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and specialty clinics, positioning it as a comprehensive care delivery system within the competitive medical‑care‑facilities sector. In the last two quarters, Q3 2025 and Q4 2025, the company reported EPS of $6.96 and $8.01, respectively, both surpassing analyst estimates of $5.726 and $7.5255, while revenue climbed from $19.161 billion to $19.513 billion, a 1.8% rise that outpaced the modest 1.5% growth seen in Q1 2025 and Q2 2025 (EPS $6.45 and $6.84; revenue $18.321 billion to $18.605 billion). HCA has consistently beaten earnings expectations, with six consecutive quarters of EPS beats and revenue growth that has remained positive, though at a slowing pace, reflecting the company’s disciplined cost‑control initiatives. Historically, the firm has delivered robust year‑over‑year EPS growth, with an 28% increase from Q4 2024 to Q4 2025 and a 10.8% rise from Q1 2025 to Q1 2026, while revenue growth has moderated to 6.8% and 4.3% over the same periods, indicating a maturing business model that still supports margin expansion. Recent news highlights a Barclays downgrade to neutral and removal from major indices, which has pressured the stock, yet BofA Securities lifted its price target and highlighted outpatient expansion as a growth driver; a gene‑editing study published in the New England Journal of Medicine signals potential new revenue streams from advanced therapies, and $9.18 billion buyback program underscores a bullish long‑term outlook. Investors should watch for the upcoming earnings release for guidance on Medicare reimbursement, the progress of capacity expansion, and any regulatory updates that could influence reimbursement rates or the commercialization timeline of the gene‑editing therapy, as these factors will shape HCA’s margin dynamics and growth trajectory in the next quarter.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$5.38$6.13$6.87$7.61$8.35Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$7.47 - -
Q1'26$7.13$7.15+0.3%
Q4'25$7.53$8.01+6.4%
Q3'25$5.73$6.96+21.6%
Q2'25$6.32$6.84+8.2%
Q1'25$5.75$6.45+12.1%

Revenue

EstBeatMiss
$18.1B$18.6B$19.1B$19.6B$20.1BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q2'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q2'26$19.6B - -
Q1'26$19.1B$19.1B+0.2%
Q4'25$19.9B$19.5B-1.8%
Q3'25 - $19.2B -
Q2'25 - $18.6B -
Q1'25 - $18.3B -
Full Earnings BreakdownEstimates, actuals, guidance, and historical context
→

Market Data

HCA Stock Snapshot

HCA is currently trading at $364.90, giving HCA Healthcare, Inc. a market cap of 87.72B and a P/E ratio of 12.9. Today's range spans $349.27–$392.00, with shares opening at $354.35 and moving up $1.28 (0.4%) from the prior close. DailyIQ's technical score sits at 14/100 (SELL) with a news sentiment reading of 40/100.

Over the past year HCA has traded between $330.00 and $556.52 - the current price is +10.6% off the 52-week low and -34.4% from the high. 31 analysts cover the stock with a Buy consensus and a mean 12-month target of $490.29 (range $396.00–$635.00), implying upside of +34.4%.

When HCA shows a SELL (14/100) alongside bearish sentiment (40/100), the right posture for most Healthcare investors is reduced exposure rather than conviction buying. Price: $364.90 (near 52-week lows). (P/E: 12.9) At 87.72B in capitalization, the structural support levels within the $330.00–$556.52 annual range are where the setup becomes reassessable - not before.

The current SELL phase for HCA (14/100) at $364.90 (near 52-week lows) suggests that the market is discounting either a fundamental deterioration or a sector headwind that hasn't fully appeared in the earnings line yet. Sentiment at 40/100 (bearish) confirms that news flow is not providing a counternarrative. At 87.72B in Healthcare capitalization, HCA has the liquidity for institutional exits to be orderly — but orderly doesn't mean shallow within the $330.00–$556.52 range.