DailyIQ
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Sector:HealthcareAll sectors
Last updated1 minute ago

HCA·HCA Healthcare, Inc.

$460.76
+2.16 (+0.47%)
Overnight$459.00-1.76 (-0.38%)
High
$462.52
Open
$459.54
Market Cap
99.00B
52W High
$556.52
Low
$455.81
P. Close
$460.76
P/E
14.47
52W Low
$349.27
Fwd P/E
14.40
DailyIQ Est.
$470.98
Inst. Ownership
26.3%
Short Interest
2.26%
Days to Cover
3.1
Div. Yield
0.67%
Next Ex-Div
~Dec 17
Div. Growth
5+ yrs
Technical Score (1D)
42
BEARISH
News Sentiment
57
BULLISH
On Oct 13, HCA Healthcare reported that its Trident Hospital had entered a joint venture with Solis Mammography to launch a new breast imaging program. The partnership, announced on Sept 29, 2026, rebranded Trident’s existing breast imaging services and will expand the model to additional HCA facilities in the Charleston area. The move was described as a way to broaden HCA’s outpatient footprint in South Carolina’s 26th major market. By adding Solis’s comprehensive breast health model, HCA aims to strengthen its service offering in the Lowcountry region. The expansion is expected to enhance HCA’s competitive position in the local market.
LOW TARGET
$380 -17.2%
2 analysts
MEAN TARGET
$461 +0.3%
16 analysts
HIGH TARGET
$579 +26.1%
13 analysts
PRICE RANGE
$380.00 - $579.00
SB / B / H / S / SS
6/11/12/1/1
DAILYIQ EST.
$470.98 (+2.6%)
Sector
Healthcare
Industry
Medical Care Facilities
Exchange
NYQ
Country
United States
Website
hcahealthcare.com
Symbol
HCA
Description
HCA Healthcare, Inc. is a leading provider of healthcare services, primarily operating through a vast network of hospitals and related facilities across the United States. The company's core business centers on delivering a comprehensive suite of medical and surgical services, encompassing both inpatient and outpatient care options. This includes critical services like intensive care, cardiac care, and emergency services, alongside specialized outpatient offerings such as surgery, diagnostics, and therapy. Furthermore, HCA Healthcare extends its reach through freestanding facilities, including ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care clinics, and specialized therapy centers, providing convenient access to care. Through its diverse service offerings and extensive geographic footprint, HCA Healthcare aims to be a comprehensive healthcare solution for patients.
Bought (1Y)
0 shares
$0
Sold (1Y)
0 shares
$0
McAlevey Michael REVP & Chief Legal & Admin Off.
J7,769 shares2026-08-26
View full insider trading history →
61/ 100
Neutral / mixed
Overall: Neutral
✓Revenue growing year over year
✓Positive net margin
✓Positive operating cash flow
Net Margin
9.0%
Revenue CAGR
7.2%
Current Ratio
0.97x
Debt / Equity
-7.71x
Return on Equity
-112.6%
View full financials →
Earnings Summary
HCA Healthcare, Inc. operates a broad network of hospitals and related facilities across the United States, delivering inpatient, outpatient, and specialized surgical services, and positioning itself as a comprehensive medical care provider within the healthcare sector. In the most recent quarter, Q1 2026, the company reported EPS of $7.15 versus an estimate of $7.13, and revenue of $19.109 billion against an estimate of $19.073 billion, marking a modest revenue increase of 0.2% from Q4 2025 and a slight EPS acceleration of 0.7% from the prior quarter; this follows a trend of consistent earnings beats, with EPS exceeding estimates in each of the last four quarters and revenue growth in three of those quarters. Historically, HCA has maintained a steady YoY revenue growth trajectory, with a 2.5% increase in Q4 2025 compared to Q4 2024, while EPS has trended upward year over year, reflecting disciplined cost management and expansion of high-margin services; the company has frequently outperformed analyst expectations, particularly in recent quarters where EPS beats have been larger than revenue beats. Recent news highlights from RBC and Jefferies on October 7, 2026, raised price targets to $496 and $500 respectively, citing expectations of stronger revenue growth and margin improvement, while BMO Capital’s upgrade on September 22, 2026, underscored planned capital investments and digital transformation initiatives that could support a 4%–6% EBITDA CAGR; these developments reinforce market confidence in HCA’s operational strategy and long‑term profitability.

EPS

EstBeatMiss
$5.38$6.13$6.87$7.61$8.35Q1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$6.63 - -
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$20.1BQ1'25Q2'25Q3'25Q4'25Q1'26Q3'26
QtrEstActual+/−
Q3'26$19.5B - -
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

NEUTRAL42/100
$459.00−$1.76 (0.4%)
Market cap
99.00B
P/E ratio
14.5
Day range
$455.81 – $462.52
News sentiment
57/100 · Neutral
Analyst target
$460.59 (+0.3%)
Consensus
Hold · 31 analysts
52-week range+31.4% off low · -17.5% from high
$349.27$556.52
Price $459.00 DailyIQ Est. $470.98

Neither side has the upper hand on HCA right now, and its momentum ranks near the middle of DailyIQ's universe. Sector peers are worth watching - large caps in Healthcare tend to move together on rotation.

Reverse DCF

What growth is priced into HCA?

CHEAP

At today's price, HCA Healthcare, Inc. needs to grow free cash flow about -4.0% a year for the next 10 years to justify its valuation at a 6.45% cost of capital. Over its actual history it has compounded free cash flow at 9.6% a year, so the market is asking for 13.6 percentage points below its own delivered rate. On that basis HCA looks priced below what its own growth record supports.

Implied FCF growth
-4.0%
Historical FCF CAGR
9.6%
Growth gap
-13.6 pts
Verdict
CHEAP
Discount rate (WACC)
6.45%
Beta
0.49

Behaviour On Record

What HCA's own history says about today's numbers

Realized volatility (21d)
23.8% 45th pct
Below its peak
-17.5%
vs 200-day average
+1.2%
Up days (1y)
49%

HCA Healthcare, Inc. is currently running 23.8% annualised volatility over the last 21 sessions. Measured against HCA's own 13 years of daily returns rather than a market-wide average, that is the 45th percentile — close to its own typical level, against a typical reading of 24.9%. The distinction matters because a number that looks calm for one stock is turbulent for another, and the absolute figure on its own tells you neither.

HCA is trading -17.5% below its running peak. Across 12 full years on file, its median worst-drawdown-in-a-year was -21.9%, and the deepest was -54.3% in 2020. The current pullback is therefore shallower than what this stock gives back in a typical year, which is context worth having before treating it as a dislocation.

Price sits +1.2% from its 200-day moving average. Against every other day in its history, that gap ranks at the 32nd percentile — close to the gap it normally carries. Over the past year HCA closed higher on 49% of sessions, and it is currently 3 sessions into a rising streak.

On October specifically: over 13 years of records, HCA finished the month higher 7 of 13 times, with a median return of +1.1% and an average of -0.0%. Its strongest month historically has been July at +8.0% on average, its weakest September at -1.7%. Seasonality is a weak signal on its own — a decade is a small sample and regimes change — but it is a real distribution rather than a rule of thumb.

Overnight risk is measurable too: HCA has opened more than 2% away from the prior close in 130 of 3,266 sessions (4.0% of the time), with the largest gaps running +13.1% and -11.1%. For anyone holding through an event, that rate is a better guide to overnight exposure than the intraday range.

All figures computed from 3,267 daily closes between 2013-10-14 and 2026-10-09, split-adjusted, recomputed daily. Percentiles are against HCA's own 13-year history, not a peer group or index.

Sector Rotation

Is money rotating into or out of HCA's sector?

HCA Healthcare, Inc. sits in the Health Care sector, currently ranked 4th of 12 GICS sectors by relative-strength rotation score (improving).

Sector rank
#4 of 12
Sector state
Improving
Sector rotation score
73

Options Market

What is the options market pricing for HCA?

CallsPuts

For HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s nearest expiry (2026-10-16, 2 days out), open interest is call-heavy, a bullish tilt (put/call ratio of 0.00), with at-the-money implied volatility around 12.5%. The options market is pricing roughly a ±0.9% move by that expiry — a range of about $427.64–$435.62.

Put/call ratio (2026-10-16)
0.00
ATM implied volatility
12.5%
Total open interest
73
Expected move by 2026-10-16
±0.9% ($427.64–$435.62)

Analyst Rating Changes

Are analysts turning bullish or bearish on HCA?

TD Cowen most recently reiterated its rating on HCA Healthcare, Inc. to Buy on Oct 12, 2026 with a price target of $460 (from $431). Over the last 90 days, coverage has run 0 upgrades against 0 downgrades, a net mixed lean.

Latest action
TD Cowen — Buy
90-day upgrades
0
90-day downgrades
0
Net rating momentum
0
DateFirmActionRatingPrice target
Oct 12, 2026TD CowenMaintainedBuy$431 → $460
Oct 7, 2026RBC CapitalMaintainedOutperform$435 → $496
Sep 23, 2026BMO CapitalInitiatedOutperform$495
Sep 18, 2026Leerink PartnersMaintainedOutperform$492
Sep 8, 2026RBC CapitalReiteratedOutperform$435
Aug 20, 2026JP MorganMaintainedNeutral$490 → $425
Aug 3, 2026Wells FargoMaintainedEqual-Weight$369 → $381
Jul 28, 2026Goldman SachsMaintainedBuy$558 → $485
Jul 28, 2026MizuhoMaintainedOutperform$525 → $475
Jul 27, 2026UBSMaintainedBuy$635 → $579
Jul 27, 2026Morgan StanleyMaintainedUnderweight$425 → $380
Jul 27, 2026RBC CapitalReiteratedOutperform$435

Peers & ETF holders

HCA peers & ETF holders

Medical Care FacilitiesMarket cap · today

Top ETF holdersWeight

News Sentiment Analysis

Sentiment gathered from recent headlines

57/100
Strong NegativeNeutralStrong Positive
MODERATELY BULLISH

Recent News Coverage

Most recent articles, ranked by recency (click to expand).

10+ articles
What did this article say?
On September 29, 2026, HCA Healthcare partnered with Solis Mammography to launch a joint venture that rebranded Trident Hospital’s breast imaging program and planned further rollouts into additional HCA facilities in Charleston. The collaboration introduced Solis’s comprehensive breast health model to South Carolina’s 26th major market, strengthening HCA’s outpatient footprint in the Lowcountry. By expanding specialized imaging services, HCA aims to enhance its competitive moat and attract more patients to its network.
What did this article say?
HCA Healthcare’s stock has risen 96% over the past three years, yet analysts question whether the current price reflects the company’s cash‑flow capacity. Recent events—including a tracking‑cookie lawsuit, the sale of 31 home‑health and hospice sites, and a payer dispute with Cigna—could affect future collections and capital needs. A discounted‑cash‑flow model suggests the shares may be overvalued relative to intrinsic value, raising concerns about a potential price correction.
What did this article say?
Analysts at SeekingAlpha reaffirmed a buy rating for HCA Healthcare, citing robust revenue growth and favorable demographic trends driving demand for healthcare services. The report highlighted the company's solid financial performance and its ability to capitalize on aging population trends. This positive outlook reinforces confidence in HCA’s long‑term earnings prospects.
What did this article say?
Solis Mammography partnered with HCA Healthcare to launch a joint venture at Trident Hospital, expanding breast imaging services in Charleston and planning rollouts across additional HCA facilities. The collaboration has contributed to HCA’s share price increasing 8.44% over the past month and 7.37% over the last 90 days. Despite a 6.64% year‑to‑date decline, the company’s long‑term shareholder returns remain strong, with 84.10% over three years and 91.61% over five years. Analysts view the expansion as a modest tailwind, suggesting HCA may still be undervalued by about 3% relative to fair value estimates. The move reinforces HCA’s positioning in outpatient imaging and supports its broader growth strategy.
What did this article say?
RBC upgraded its price target for HCA Healthcare from $435 to $496, reflecting a bullish view on the company’s prospects. The brokerage maintained an Outperform rating, indicating confidence in HCA’s ability to generate above‑average returns. The adjustment suggests RBC believes the company’s earnings trajectory and market position will support higher valuation multiples.
What did this article say?
RBC Capital analyst Ben Hendrix upgraded HCA Healthcare to Outperform and lifted the price target from $435 to $496. The upgrade reflects confidence in HCA’s operational performance and growth prospects. The new target suggests a bullish outlook for the company’s valuation. This move is expected to support investor sentiment and could influence trading activity.
What did this article say?
Jefferies increased its price target for HCA Healthcare from $450 to $500 while keeping a buy recommendation. The upgrade reflects confidence in HCA’s earnings outlook and operational performance. The higher target suggests analysts expect stronger revenue growth and margin improvement in the near term. This adjustment may influence investor sentiment and could support the stock’s valuation. The move underscores Jefferies’ positive view of HCA’s strategic positioning.
What did this article say?
HCA Healthcare announced it would report its third‑quarter 2026 earnings later this month. Analysts projected a modest decline in profit, expecting a single‑digit percentage dip compared to the prior quarter. The forecast reflects ongoing competitive pressures and cost‑management challenges within the healthcare sector. Investors noted the earnings guidance as a slight negative signal for the company’s short‑term performance. The company’s financial outlook remains broadly stable despite the anticipated profit contraction.
What did this article say?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. announced the date and time for its third‑quarter 2026 earnings conference call, scheduled for October 27, 2026 at 9:00 AM Central. The call will be streamed live via the company’s investor relations website and will be archived for later viewing. Contact details for investor and media relations were provided for inquiries. No financial guidance or operational updates were disclosed in the announcement.

Technical Analysis

Real-time indicators across multiple timeframes

42
NEUTRAL
Momentum rank against about 1,000 stocks and ETFs for this timeframe.
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Institutional & Hedge Fund Ownership
25 tracked managers · $23.18B combined position · 10 adding, 15 trimming, 0 unchanged (latest 13F filings)
ManagerTrendShares Held% of Co.Position ValueFiled
Vanguard Group Inc▼ Sell14,716,1736.82%$6.87B2026-01-29
BlackRock, Inc.▼ Sell13,003,6006.03%$5.07B2026-08-07
Wellington Management Group LLP▲ Buy4,707,4732.18%$1.84B2026-08-14
Geode Capital Management, LLC▼ Sell3,668,0081.70%$1.42B2026-08-12
Morgan Stanley▲ Buy2,586,7711.20%$1.01B2026-08-13
Goldman Sachs Group Inc▲ Buy2,464,3141.14%$960.81M2026-08-14
JPMorgan Chase & Co▼ Sell2,285,8321.06%$896.80M2026-08-12
Norges Bank▼ Sell2,145,3670.99%$836.46M2026-08-12
Capital World Investors▲ Buy1,977,1210.92%$770.86M2026-08-12
Northern Trust Corp▼ Sell1,708,5600.79%$666.15M2026-08-13
FMR LLC (Fidelity)▼ Sell1,632,5200.76%$636.50M2026-08-13
Invesco Ltd.▲ Buy1,529,6370.71%$596.39M2026-08-14
Janus Henderson Group plc▼ Sell1,017,4410.47%$481.49M2026-05-18
Bank of America Corp▼ Sell611,6010.28%$238.46M2026-08-14
AllianceBernstein L.P.▼ Sell284,1260.13%$134.46M2026-08-14
Wells Fargo & Company▲ Buy339,2890.16%$132.29M2026-08-14
Neuberger Berman Group LLC▼ Sell227,2790.11%$88.61M2026-08-13
AQR Capital Management LLC▼ Sell225,2490.10%$87.62M2026-08-14
Citigroup Inc▼ Sell223,5040.10%$87.14M2026-08-03
Bridgewater Associates, LP▲ Buy203,2040.09%$79.23M2026-08-14
Citadel Advisors LLC▼ Sell184,4600.09%$71.92M2026-09-02
Harris Associates L P▼ Sell154,0970.07%$60.08M2026-08-14
D. E. Shaw & Co., Inc.▲ Buy139,4470.06%$54.37M2026-08-14
Pentwater Capital Management LP▲ Buy130,0000.06%$50.69M2026-08-14
Marshall Wace, LLP▲ Buy105,8660.05%$41.28M2026-08-13
Q2 2026 flow:1.90M sh bought ($739.97M)4.38M sh sold ($1.72B)net -2.48M sh (−$980.62M)
View full institutional holdings history →
Congressional Trading Activity
9 disclosed trades · ~$72.0K est. traded value · 5 buys, 4 sells
MemberChamberStateTypeAmountTradedFiled
Jared MoskowitzHouseFL23▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-06-172026-07-26
Alan ArmstrongSenateOK▲ Buy$1K - $15K2026-03-272026-07-21
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-09-112025-10-22
Lisa McClainHouseMI09▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-08-192025-09-12
Jared MoskowitzHouseFL23▲ Buy$1K - $15K2025-05-152025-06-27
Julie JohnsonHouseTX32▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-04-072025-05-14
Rob BresnahanHousePA08▼ Sell$1K - $15K2025-02-252025-03-27
Valerie HoyleHouseOR04▼ Sell$1K - $15K2024-12-272025-09-12
Valerie HoyleHouseOR04▲ Buy$1K - $15K2024-10-292025-09-12
View full congressional trading history →

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