Barclays Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock

Key Points

• Barclays has increased its target price for HCA Healthcare stock from $390.00 to $445.00, suggesting a potential upside of 11.60% from the previous close.
• HCA Healthcare's last quarterly earnings exceeded analysts' expectations, with an earnings per share (EPS) of $6.84, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.20.
• There are currently 62.73% of HCA's stock owned by institutional investors, suggesting strong confidence in the company's performance and future growth.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) had its target price increased by equities research analysts at Barclays from $390.00 to $445.00 in a report issued on Thursday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage presently has an "overweight" rating on the stock. Barclays's price target would suggest a potential upside of 11.60% from the stock's previous close.

HCA has been the topic of a number of other reports. Stephens upgraded HCA Healthcare to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Monday, June 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $360.00 to $370.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Monday, August 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $444.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, August 26th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $385.00 to $375.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Robert W. Baird boosted their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $423.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and nine have issued a Hold rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $407.75.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of HCA opened at $398.75 on Thursday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $384.23 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $364.54. The stock has a market cap of $93.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.76, a PEG ratio of 1.26 and a beta of 1.41. HCA Healthcare has a 52 week low of $289.98 and a 52 week high of $420.98.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 25th. The company reported $6.84 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.20 by $0.64. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 7,363.11% and a net margin of 8.21%.The firm had revenue of $18.61 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.49 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $5.50 earnings per share. The business's quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2025 guidance at 25.500-27.000 EPS. On average, analysts expect that HCA Healthcare will post 24.98 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at HCA Healthcare

In related news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 3,836 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Monday, September 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $418.84, for a total value of $1,606,670.24. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 31,503 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,194,716.52. The trade was a 10.85% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.30% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cheviot Value Management LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Saudi Central Bank acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the first quarter valued at approximately $26,000. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the first quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Finally, Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

HCA Healthcare, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.

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