Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI Makes New Investment in HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Key Points

• Citizens Financial Group acquired 65,367 shares of HCA Healthcare in the second quarter, valued at approximately $25.5 million. Institutional investors collectively own 62.73% of HCA’s outstanding stock.
• HCA reported better-than-expected quarterly results, with earnings of $7.59 per share and revenue of $20.23 billion, up 8.7% year over year.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive view, with a “Moderate Buy” consensus and an average price target of $465.59, despite several recent target reductions. HCA also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share.

Citizens Financial Group Inc. RI purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 65,367 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $25,486,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 213.0% in the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Finally, MidFirst Bank bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth $28,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $405.53 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $87.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.10. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12-month low of $353.99 and a 12-month high of $556.52. The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $394.30 and its 200 day simple moving average is $445.90.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The company had revenue of $20.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $6.84 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have issued reports on the stock. Argus decreased their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $500.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $588.00 to $525.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, July 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, July 28th. Oppenheimer lowered their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, TD Cowen decreased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $431.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, June 22nd. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock 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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