Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft Has Lowered Expectations for HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock Price

Key Points

• Deutsche Bank cut its HCA price target to $540 from $558 but maintained a "buy" rating, implying about a 22% upside from the current share price.
• HCA's Q1 showed EPS of $7.15 (missed by $0.04) and revenue of $19.11B (slight beat), while management said an ACA subsidy lapse cost roughly $150M and could contribute to a $600–$900M headwind, leading analysts to trim forecasts.
• The stock carries a consensus "Moderate Buy" with an average target of $520.55 amid mixed analyst revisions and notable insider selling; HCA trades around $442 with a market cap near $99B.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) had its price target dropped by analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft from $558.00 to $540.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has a "buy" rating on the stock. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft's price objective suggests a potential upside of 22.06% from the stock's current price.

Several other brokerages have also commented on HCA. Barclays decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $551.00 to $496.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Friday, March 27th. Argus increased their price target on HCA Healthcare from $530.00 to $560.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a "buy" rating and issued a $525.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Friday. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $520.55.

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 0.8%

HCA opened at $442.42 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $503.58 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $486.01. HCA Healthcare has a 52 week low of $329.72 and a 52 week high of $556.52. The company has a market capitalization of $98.91 billion, a PE ratio of 15.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.36.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 24th. The company reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($0.04). HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 295.93% and a net margin of 8.89%.The firm had revenue of $19.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.09 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.45 EPS. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that HCA Healthcare will post 30.15 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 1,694 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $533.37, for a total transaction of $903,528.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 8,853 shares in the company, valued at $4,721,924.61. The trade was a 16.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 8,020 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $514.58, for a total transaction of $4,126,931.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 11,993 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,171,357.94. This represents a 40.07% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 15,214 shares of company stock valued at $7,797,595. Corporate insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Brighton Jones LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth approximately $1,021,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 11.9% during the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 3,859 shares of the company's stock worth $1,334,000 after acquiring an additional 409 shares in the last quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC raised its stake in HCA Healthcare by 5.5% during the second quarter. Sivia Capital Partners LLC now owns 630 shares of the company's stock valued at $241,000 after buying an additional 33 shares in the last quarter. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth about $2,073,000. Finally, Sei Investments Co. increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 56.3% in the second quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 136,589 shares of the company's stock valued at $52,328,000 after purchasing an additional 49,214 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Management says improvements in HCA’s revenue-cycle operations are producing measurable benefits, supporting cash flow and margins as denials and underpayments rise. HCA’s strengthened revenue cycle paying dividends, CFO says
• Positive Sentiment: HCA is expanding capacity: a new $231M HCA Florida hospital is set to open in May, which should add local revenue and volume over time. $231M HCA Florida hospital to open in May
• Positive Sentiment: Local openings (e.g., HCA Florida Gainesville) signal ongoing organic growth and market penetration in key Florida markets. HCA Florida Gainesville Hospital prepares to 'receive and serve’
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA announced a proposed public offering of senior notes to raise capital for general corporate purposes (could be used to refinance debt); market reaction depends on terms when priced. HCA Announces Proposed Public Offering of Senior Notes
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership hire: Cynthia Cifuentes-Finkel named SVP of Marketing & Corporate Affairs — a governance/communications move that supports enterprise growth and investor outreach. HCA Healthcare Names Cynthia Cifuentes-Finkel Senior Vice President
• Neutral Sentiment: Human-interest community event coverage (e.g., NICU reunion) provides local PR but has limited financial impact. HCA Gulf Coast Hospital NICU reunion for patients & families
• Negative Sentiment: Policy headwinds: a lapse in ACA subsidies cost HCA roughly $150M in Q1 — a direct hit to near-term revenue and margins. ACA subsidy lapse cost HCA Healthcare $150M in Q1
• Negative Sentiment: Management still expects a material ACA-related hit (management cited as much as $600M–$900M in some disclosures), and noted lower seasonal volumes plus shifting payer mix that weighed on Q1 guidance sensitivity. HCA projects 2% to 3% volume growth while holding 2026 outlook amid $600M to $900M exchange headwind
• Negative Sentiment: Analysts reacted by trimming forecasts and cutting price targets after Q1 commentary — multiple firms reduced their PTs (examples: TD Cowen, Leerink, Oppenheimer, Truist, RBC, Stephens), increasing near-term selling pressure. These Analysts Slash Their Forecasts On HCA After Q1 Results

HCA Healthcare Company 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.

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