HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Shares Purchased by Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC increased its position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 6.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 160,217 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 9,141 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned approximately 0.07% of HCA Healthcare worth $48,089,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Norges Bank bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at $840,286,000. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 62.0% in the 4th quarter. Royal London Asset Management Ltd. now owns 1,500,786 shares of the company's stock worth $450,461,000 after acquiring an additional 574,239 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 85.7% during the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 1,061,891 shares of the company's stock valued at $318,727,000 after buying an additional 489,916 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 120.1% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 873,775 shares of the company's stock valued at $262,264,000 after buying an additional 476,756 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Two Sigma Investments LP grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 12,016.0% during the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 467,437 shares of the company's stock valued at $140,301,000 after buying an additional 463,579 shares in the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

HCA traded up $2.64 during trading on Friday, reaching $381.29. 2,556,375 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,442,905. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 1 year low of $289.98 and a 1 year high of $417.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The stock has a market capitalization of $91.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.46. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $351.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $330.31.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, April 25th. The company reported $6.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $5.75 by $0.70. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.16% and a return on equity of 586.47%. The business had revenue of $18.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $18.26 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $5.36 EPS. The business's revenue was up 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be issued a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.76%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 12.81%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Guggenheim began coverage on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "neutral" rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $384.00 to $376.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Robert W. Baird restated a "neutral" rating and set a $336.00 target price (down previously from $396.00) on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded HCA Healthcare from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $320.00 to $385.00 in a report on Thursday. Finally, Baird R W downgraded HCA Healthcare from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $385.47.

Insider Activity at HCA Healthcare

In other HCA Healthcare news, COO Jon M. Foster sold 15,698 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $369.32, for a total value of $5,797,585.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 12,646 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,670,420.72. The trade was a 55.38% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

HCA Healthcare 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.