HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock Gets Price Target Increase from TD Cowen

Key Points

• TD Cowen raised HCA Healthcare’s price target from $460 to $486 and maintained a “buy” rating, implying approximately 4.77% upside. Analysts overall assign the stock a “Moderate Buy” rating with an average target of $474.
• HCA reported quarterly earnings of $7.22 per share and revenue of $19.85 billion, exceeding estimates of $6.65 and $19.33 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 3.6% year over year.
• Despite the earnings beat, investors face risks including broadly flat projected 2027 earnings, declining Medicaid reimbursement, an estimated $400 million uninsured-patient headwind, weaker payer mix and rising costs.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) had its price objective upped by equities research analysts at TD Cowen from $460.00 to $486.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has a "buy" rating on the stock. TD Cowen's target price suggests a potential upside of 4.77% from the stock's current price.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Raymond James Financial set a $528.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, July 7th. Mizuho set a $495.00 price objective on HCA Healthcare in a report on Wednesday. BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, September 22nd. They issued an "outperform" rating and a $495.00 target price on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 20th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $474.00.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HCA traded up $13.89 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $463.85. The stock had a trading volume of 1,038,433 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,341,062. The company's 50 day moving average price is $433.68 and its 200 day moving average price is $444.96. HCA Healthcare has a twelve month low of $353.99 and a twelve month high of $556.52. The firm has a market cap of $100.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 1.10.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $7.22 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $6.65 by $0.57. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The company had revenue of $19.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $19.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.96 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare's revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare will post 29.51 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the first quarter worth $33,000. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth about $29,000. Latitude Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Delos Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth about $35,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: HCA reported third-quarter adjusted earnings of $7.22 per share and revenue of $19.85 billion, exceeding consensus estimates of $6.65 and $19.33 billion, respectively. Revenue increased 3.6% year over year, supported by higher admissions and emergency-room visits. HCA Healthcare beats quarterly profit estimates on demand for medical services
• Positive Sentiment: KeyCorp raised its price target on HCA from $435 to $490 and maintained an “overweight” rating, citing additional potential upside following the quarterly results. KeyCorp HCA price target
• Positive Sentiment: The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share, or $3.12 annualized, providing continued shareholder returns.
• Neutral Sentiment: Robert W. Baird raised its price target from $393 to $409 but kept a “neutral” rating, indicating that the firm sees limited valuation support at current levels. Robert W. Baird HCA price target
• Negative Sentiment: Management signaled broadly flat 2027 earnings as Medicaid reimbursement declines, raising concerns about the company’s near-term growth outlook. HCA signals flat 2027 earnings as Medicaid payments drop
• Negative Sentiment: A rise in uninsured patients is expected to create an approximately $400 million coverage-related headwind. Investors are also watching weaker payer mix, rising costs and a 5.4% decline in ambulatory surgery-center volume, which offset the earnings beat. HCA Stock Drops as Pressure From Uninsured Patients Mounts
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP announced an investigation into potential claims on behalf of HCA investors, adding a legal headline risk, although no allegations or findings were established in the announcement. Pomerantz HCA investor alert

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, Inc is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency care facilities, physician practices and other healthcare sites. Its facilities provide a broad range of services, including acute and emergency care, surgery, cardiology, oncology, women's and children's services, behavioral health and outpatient care.

The company serves patients primarily across the United States through a network of healthcare facilities in numerous states.

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