Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. Grows Stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Key Points

• Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. increased its stake in HCA Healthcare by 5.3% during the first quarter, now holding a position worth approximately $7.34 million.
• Recent reports from analysts indicate a shift in ratings for HCA, with multiple target price adjustments, including a decrease by Robert W. Baird from $396.00 to $336.00.
• HCA Healthcare announced a quarterly dividend of $0.72 per share, set to be paid to investors on September 30, reflecting an annualized yield of 0.7% and a dividend payout ratio of 12.11%.

Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd. raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 5.3% during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 21,230 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,078 shares during the period. Leith Wheeler Investment Counsel Ltd.'s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $7,336,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.4% during the first quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 8,077 shares of the company's stock worth $2,791,000 after purchasing an additional 32 shares during the period. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 4.3% during the first quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 872 shares of the company's stock worth $301,000 after purchasing an additional 36 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 4.8% in the first quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 858 shares of the company's stock valued at $297,000 after acquiring an additional 39 shares during the period. Perigon Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 2.3% in the first quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,797 shares of the company's stock valued at $621,000 after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. Finally, Barden Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 1.4% in the first quarter. Barden Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,921 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,009,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the period. 62.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on HCA shares. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on HCA Healthcare from $410.00 to $400.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 28th. Wall Street Zen raised HCA Healthcare from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Saturday, July 5th. Robert W. Baird upped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $423.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday. Barclays reduced their target price on HCA Healthcare from $416.00 to $390.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 28th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $390.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 16th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $398.58.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 0.6%

HCA stock traded up $2.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $395.83. The company had a trading volume of 1,251,407 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,541,143. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.98. The company has a market capitalization of $92.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.64, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.24 and a beta of 1.39. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $370.53 and a 200 day simple moving average of $351.46. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $289.98 and a fifty-two week high of $417.14.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 25th. The company reported $6.84 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $6.20 by $0.64. The company had revenue of $18.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $18.49 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 7,363.11% and a net margin of 8.21%. HCA Healthcare's revenue for the quarter was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.50 EPS. Analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 16th. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio is presently 12.11%.

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.