James Investment Research Inc. Takes $1.49 Million Position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Key Points

• James Investment Research bought a new stake of 3,190 HCA shares valued at roughly $1.49 million, according to its SEC filing.
• Q1 results and guidance: HCA reported $7.15 EPS (a $0.04 miss) and $19.11 billion in revenue (+4.3% YoY) and set FY2026 guidance of $29.10–$31.50 EPS (analysts average ~30.15), a mix that weighed on the stock amid softer surgical volumes.
• Insider and institutional positioning: Insiders sold 15,214 shares (~$7.8 million) in the last three months and now own 1.50% of the company, while institutional investors hold 62.73% of HCA stock.

James Investment Research Inc. bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 3,190 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,489,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Cerity Partners LLC boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 43,920 shares of the company's stock valued at $18,719,000 after acquiring an additional 5,092 shares during the period. National Pension Service lifted its position in HCA Healthcare by 2.9% in the third quarter. National Pension Service now owns 626,585 shares of the company's stock valued at $267,051,000 after purchasing an additional 17,531 shares during the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC grew its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 37.7% in the third quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 4,548 shares of the company's stock worth $1,938,000 after purchasing an additional 1,246 shares during the last quarter. Sector Gamma AS raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 36.0% during the 3rd quarter. Sector Gamma AS now owns 10,883 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,638,000 after buying an additional 2,883 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nordea Investment Management AB grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 11.2% in the 4th quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,084,590 shares of the company's stock worth $507,393,000 after acquiring an additional 108,849 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $433.04 on Monday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $505.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $485.81. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $321.39 and a fifty-two week high of $556.52. The company has a market capitalization of $96.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.89, a P/E/G ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.36.

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

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 16th. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.99%.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Revenue and demand beat/strength: Q1 revenue rose ~4.3% to $19.11B and the company cited strong medical care demand; some outlets note the company beat profit estimates on service demand. HCA Healthcare beats quarterly profit estimates on medical care demand
• Positive Sentiment: Margins still meaningful: HCA reported a ~12% operating margin in Q1, showing underlying profitability despite a dynamic operating environment. HCA posts 12% operating margin in Q1: 8 things to know
• Neutral Sentiment: Official results and call: HCA reported EPS of $7.15 and released its earnings call transcript and press release (revenue in line with consensus). These documents give full context on volumes, mix and expense items for analysts. HCA Healthcare Reports First Quarter 2026 Results Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Volume weakness weighed heavily: Surgical volumes softened and total volumes missed seasonal expectations, which traders flagged as the main reason for the share decline despite a near-term beat on profits. HCA Healthcare stock plunges nearly 8% on weak volume trends despite Q1 beat
• Negative Sentiment: EPS/guidance miss vs. street: Reported EPS was roughly flat to estimates (small miss on some models) and FY26 guidance of $29.10–$31.50 EPS (and revenue range) sits slightly below consensus, prompting downward revisions. HCA Trading/Guidance Summary
• Negative Sentiment: Policy and longer-term growth concerns: Analysts warn policy headwinds (Medicaid/ACA subsidy rollbacks) may limit admissions growth to low single digits over coming years — a reason at least one shop trimmed upside and moved to Hold. Policy Pressures May Be Limiting Admissions (Upgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Rising expenses and margin retracement: Several reports cite higher expenses and a ~50 bps margin retracement in the quarter, which combined with volume softness amplifies near-term earnings risk. Q1 Earnings Miss on Rising Expenses

Insider Activity

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $558.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $452.00 to $481.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, January 30th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $546.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, TD Cowen upped their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $529.00 to $561.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, March 10th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $534.41.

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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