Assenagon Asset Management S.A. Sells 63,779 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Key Points

• Assenagon Asset Management cut its HCA Healthcare stake by 81% in the second quarter, selling 63,779 shares and retaining 15,001 shares worth approximately $5.85 million. Institutional investors and hedge funds collectively own 62.73% of HCA’s stock.
• HCA reported quarterly EPS of $7.59, slightly above estimates, while revenue rose 8.7% year over year to $20.23 billion. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share, representing a 0.8% yield.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $465.59, but several firms have reduced targets or earnings forecasts. Potential labor-cost pressures from demands for higher pay and increased staffing are an additional risk to margins.

Assenagon Asset Management S.A. lessened its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 81.0% during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 15,001 shares of the company's stock after selling 63,779 shares during the period. Assenagon Asset Management S.A.'s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $5,849,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $411.55 on Wednesday. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $390.75 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $447.87. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a one year low of $353.99 and a one year high of $556.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $89.10 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.78, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The firm had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $19.76 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $6.84 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.45 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.45%.

Trending Headlines about HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s Tennessee hospital appointed a new chief executive, providing a leadership update that could support local operations, although the move is unlikely to materially affect the broader company in the near term. HCA Tennessee hospital taps CEO
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA’s former CFO discussed the importance of partnerships in healthcare. The comments may reinforce the strategic value of collaboration and care-network development, but they do not indicate a new financial initiative or immediate change to HCA’s earnings outlook. HCA Healthcare’s former CFO on the role of partnerships in health
• Negative Sentiment: Healthcare workers at HCA hospitals are pushing for higher pay and increased staffing. Potential wage increases, labor-related disruptions and continued staffing shortages could raise operating costs and pressure margins, while criticism over staffing may create reputational risks. HCA workers push for higher pay and more staffing amid billions in profits
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research lowered EPS forecasts for HCA’s third and fourth quarters of 2026, multiple quarters in 2027 and the first two quarters of 2028. Its FY2027 estimate fell to $31.27 from $32.32, while the Q3 2026 forecast declined to $6.79 from $7.23. These broad estimate cuts are likely the main catalyst for the stock’s decrease because they imply softer-than-previously-expected earnings momentum.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have commented on the stock. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a "market perform" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $476.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, July 27th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $435.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $475.00 to $435.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $465.59.

About HCA Healthcare

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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