Nykredit A S Buys Shares of 36,514 HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Key Points

• Nykredit A/S acquired 36,514 shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter, valued at approximately $14.2 million. Institutional investors collectively own 62.73% of the company.
• HCA reported strong quarterly results, with revenue up 8.7% year over year to $20.23 billion and earnings of $7.59 per share, beating analyst expectations. The company also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share.
• Analysts maintain a generally positive outlook, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and a $462.27 price target, though HCA faces risks from slowing elective surgeries, higher patient bad debt, payer disputes and litigation concerns.

Nykredit A S acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 36,514 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $14,236,000.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 1st quarter valued at about $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 213.0% during the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth $35,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

Trending Headlines about HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Leerink Partners reaffirmed its “outperform” rating and set a $492 price target, implying roughly 15% upside from the referenced share price. Jefferies also maintained its Buy rating, while other analysts reportedly reaffirmed constructive targets. These endorsements provide support for the stock’s valuation and long-term outlook.
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst optimism likely reflects HCA’s recent operating performance: quarterly revenue increased 8.7% year over year to $20.23 billion, while adjusted earnings exceeded consensus expectations.
• Neutral Sentiment: The HCA Healthcare Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Feeding Southwest Virginia. The contribution supports HCA’s community-relations efforts but is unlikely to materially affect earnings or valuation.
• Negative Sentiment: HCA’s chief financial officer said patients owe more while paying less amid economic strain, raising concerns about higher bad debt, collection costs and weaker cash conversion. HCA CFO: Patients owe more, pay less amid economic strain
• Negative Sentiment: HCA is suing Independence Blue Cross over denied claims and prior-authorization disputes. The litigation could help recover unpaid revenue, but it also underscores payer friction and may increase legal and administrative costs. HCA sues Independence Blue Cross over denied claims
• Negative Sentiment: Management reported a slowdown in elective surgeries as insurance coverage erodes. Reduced procedure volumes could pressure hospital revenue and profitability, particularly if patients defer nonurgent care. HCA sees elective surgery slowdown
• Negative Sentiment: The CFO acknowledged HCA is behind insurers in deploying artificial intelligence for claims processing, suggesting potential disadvantages in reimbursement management and denial prevention. HCA CFO on claims AI
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz announced an investigation into potential investor claims involving HCA. Although the announcement does not establish wrongdoing, it adds headline and litigation risk. Pomerantz investor investigation

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of HCA stock opened at $427.78 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $92.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.32, a PEG ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10. The stock's 50-day moving average is $406.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $429.78. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $353.99 and a fifty-two week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $6.84 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.42 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio is 10.45%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on HCA. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $396.00 to $393.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. dropped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, August 20th. Oppenheimer reduced their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Barclays decreased their target price on HCA Healthcare from $402.00 to $387.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, July 15th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $462.27.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, Inc NYSE: HCA is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Its network provides a broad range of medical services, including emergency care, inpatient and outpatient treatment, surgery, diagnostic services, and maternity care.

The company also operates ambulatory surgery centers, urgent care facilities, physician practices, and other outpatient locations. HCA Healthcare serves patients through facilities located across the United States, as well as through HCA Healthcare UK, its healthcare operations in the United Kingdom.

HCA Healthcare was founded in 1968 by Dr.

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