Sanders Capital LLC Sells 36,505 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Key Points

• Sanders Capital trimmed its HCA Healthcare stake by 36,505 shares (0.4%) in the third quarter, but still held 8.79 million shares, worth about $3.75 billion and representing 3.7% of its portfolio.
• HCA reported quarterly earnings of $7.22 per share, beating the $6.65 analyst consensus, while revenue of $19.85 billion exceeded estimates and rose 3.6% year over year.
• Company insiders sold 32,913 shares worth about $16.5 million over the past three months; analysts’ overall rating was “Moderate Buy,” with a consensus price target of $480.13.

Sanders Capital LLC decreased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,791,782 shares of the company's stock after selling 36,505 shares during the period. HCA Healthcare comprises about 3.7% of Sanders Capital LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 7th biggest holding. Sanders Capital LLC owned about 4.06% of HCA Healthcare worth $3,751,805,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Alta Advisers Ltd grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 71.0% in the 3rd quarter. Alta Advisers Ltd now owns 1,137 shares of the company's stock worth $485,000 after acquiring an additional 472 shares in the last quarter. Syverson Strege & Co acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $209,000. Kestra Advisory Services LLC raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 18.9% during the 3rd quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 6,131 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,616,000 after acquiring an additional 976 shares in the last quarter. Platform Technology Partners bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth $250,000. Finally, Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 11.1% in the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 1,942 shares of the company's stock worth $911,000 after purchasing an additional 194 shares during the period. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In related news, EVP Michael J. Schlosser sold 1,200 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $494.65, for a total value of $593,580.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 1,443 shares in the company, valued at $713,779.95. This represents a 45.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, COO Jon M. Foster sold 21,713 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $494.95, for a total transaction of $10,746,849.35. Following the sale, the chief operating officer owned 10,000 shares in the company, valued at $4,949,500. This trade represents a 68.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. In the last three months, insiders sold 32,913 shares of company stock valued at $16,481,129. Company insiders own 1.50% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HCA traded down $13.04 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $494.44. The stock had a trading volume of 1,462,203 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,294,314. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $443.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $445.25. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.38, a PEG ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.11. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 1-year low of $353.99 and a 1-year high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $7.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.65 by $0.57. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 198.52% and a net margin of 8.61%. The business had revenue of $19.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.33 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $6.96 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 30.15 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 15th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 15th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio is presently 10.34%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have weighed in on HCA shares. TD Cowen increased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $460.00 to $486.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada lifted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $496.00 to $521.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, October 30th. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $387.00 to $401.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Friday, October 2nd. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded HCA Healthcare from a "hold (c+)" rating to a "buy (b-)" rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $480.13.

Key HCA Healthcare News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Investors have welcomed expectations that a Democratic-controlled Congress could provide a policy tailwind for hospitals. However, the anticipated relief is not yet enacted and still depends on legislative and funding steps. HCA Healthcare Gains Policy Tailwind
• Positive Sentiment: HCA is expanding AI tools, with its nurse handoff technology heading to 100 hospitals and ambient AI expected to reach 10,000 physicians by year-end. These deployments could support workflow efficiency. AI nurse handoff tool
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and technical coverage is supportive: Truist reaffirmed its Buy rating, while Zacks highlighted earnings growth, price strength and a bullish moving-average signal. Truist reaffirms Buy rating Zacks stock outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA completed a $6.5 billion senior notes offering. The report confirms the financing but gives limited detail on its use or effect on borrowing costs. Senior notes offering
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA’s AI chief emphasized that delaying a rollout can be appropriate, suggesting a measured approach that may limit near-term adoption while managing implementation risks. HCA AI rollout strategy
• Negative Sentiment: One report flagged potential payer pressure in HCA’s 2027 outlook, a concern for future hospital reimbursement and margins. Payer pressure outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP said it is investigating investor claims involving HCA. The announcement provides no findings, but the inquiry may create a legal overhang. Investor investigation announcement

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

HCA Healthcare is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other care facilities. Its services include inpatient and outpatient care, emergency treatment, surgery, diagnostic services and specialized care across areas such as cancer and cardiovascular medicine.

The company serves patients in the United States and the United Kingdom through its network of hospitals and outpatient facilities, including surgery centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices.

Founded in 1968, HCA Healthcare is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.

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