HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Shares Sold by Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank

Key Points

• Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank reduced its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 13.1%, selling 13,450 shares, resulting in ownership of 89,188 shares valued at approximately $30.8 million.
• In recent analyst reports, HCA Healthcare's price targets have varied, with Truist Financial raising their price objective to $415.00 and Robert W. Baird decreasing theirs to $336.00, indicating differing sentiments among analysts.
• HCA Healthcare announced a quarterly dividend of $0.72, yielding 0.86%, with a low payout ratio of 12.11%, signaling possible stability in investor returns.

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lessened its stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 13.1% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 89,188 shares of the company's stock after selling 13,450 shares during the period. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank's holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $30,819,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HCA. Brighton Jones LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,021,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in HCA Healthcare by 36.9% in the 4th quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 31,962 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,593,000 after buying an additional 8,623 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLC boosted its position in HCA Healthcare by 21.2% in the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 61,581 shares of the company's stock valued at $18,484,000 after buying an additional 10,777 shares during the period. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE lifted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3.4% during the 4th quarter. Congress Wealth Management LLC DE now owns 1,039 shares of the company's stock worth $312,000 after purchasing an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WINTON GROUP Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth $270,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HCA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Wall Street Zen raised shares of HCA Healthcare from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Saturday, July 5th. Bank of America downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and set a $394.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Wednesday, July 16th. Robert W. Baird restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $336.00 price objective (down previously from $396.00) on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Guggenheim began coverage on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Wednesday, April 9th. They issued a "neutral" rating on the stock. Finally, Baird R W lowered shares of HCA Healthcare from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $396.46.

Insider Activity at HCA Healthcare

In other news, COO Jon M. Foster sold 15,698 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $369.32, for a total value of $5,797,585.36. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 12,646 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,670,420.72. This trade represents a 55.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Trading Up 0.7%

Shares of HCA traded up $2.39 on Thursday, hitting $357.45. 475,116 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,604,120. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.98 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07. The firm has a market capitalization of $85.99 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.03, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.47. The stock's 50 day moving average is $371.51 and its two-hundred day moving average is $346.46. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 1 year low of $289.98 and a 1 year high of $417.14.

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

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.72 dividend. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 16th. 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.