HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Key Points

• Consensus "Moderate Buy": Twenty-four analysts cover HCA with a consensus rating of Moderate Buy (16 buys, 7 holds, 1 sell) and an average 12‑month price target of about $534.41.
• Mixed Q1 and sell‑off: HCA reported Q1 revenue of $19.11 billion (+4.3%) and EPS of $7.15 (slightly below the $7.19 consensus) with ~12% operating margin, set FY26 guidance of $29.10–$31.50 EPS, and the stock dropped roughly 8.6% amid weaker surgical volumes and guidance concerns.
• Insider selling: Company insiders sold a total of 15,214 shares worth about $7.8 million over the last 90 days, leaving insiders with roughly 1.50% ownership of the stock.

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from the twenty-four ratings firms that are presently covering the company, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and sixteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $534.4091.

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on HCA. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "buy (b)" rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Friday, March 27th. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $546.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a "buy" rating and set a $525.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Friday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $420.00 to $535.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, February 20th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $555.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th.

More HCA Healthcare News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Revenue and demand beat/strength: Q1 revenue rose ~4.3% to $19.11B and the company cited strong medical care demand; some outlets note the company beat profit estimates on service demand. HCA Healthcare beats quarterly profit estimates on medical care demand
• Positive Sentiment: Margins still meaningful: HCA reported a ~12% operating margin in Q1, showing underlying profitability despite a dynamic operating environment. HCA posts 12% operating margin in Q1: 8 things to know
• Neutral Sentiment: Official results and call: HCA reported EPS of $7.15 and released its earnings call transcript and press release (revenue in line with consensus). These documents give full context on volumes, mix and expense items for analysts. HCA Healthcare Reports First Quarter 2026 Results Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript
• Negative Sentiment: Volume weakness weighed heavily: Surgical volumes softened and total volumes missed seasonal expectations, which traders flagged as the main reason for the share decline despite a near-term beat on profits. HCA Healthcare stock plunges nearly 8% on weak volume trends despite Q1 beat
• Negative Sentiment: EPS/guidance miss vs. street: Reported EPS was roughly flat to estimates (small miss on some models) and FY26 guidance of $29.10–$31.50 EPS (and revenue range) sits slightly below consensus, prompting downward revisions. HCA Trading/Guidance Summary
• Negative Sentiment: Policy and longer-term growth concerns: Analysts warn policy headwinds (Medicaid/ACA subsidy rollbacks) may limit admissions growth to low single digits over coming years — a reason at least one shop trimmed upside and moved to Hold. Policy Pressures May Be Limiting Admissions (Upgrade)
• Negative Sentiment: Rising expenses and margin retracement: Several reports cite higher expenses and a ~50 bps margin retracement in the quarter, which combined with volume softness amplifies near-term earnings risk. Q1 Earnings Miss on Rising Expenses

Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In related news, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 8,020 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $514.58, for a total value of $4,126,931.60. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 11,993 shares of the company's stock, valued at $6,171,357.94. This represents a 40.07% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Christopher F. Wyatt sold 4,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.00, for a total transaction of $2,020,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 44,379 shares in the company, valued at $22,411,395. This represents a 8.27% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold a total of 15,214 shares of company stock worth $7,797,595 in the last 90 days. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HCA. Palisade Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 82.9% during the 3rd quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 75 shares of the company's stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares in the last quarter. Finally, JPL Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 8.6%

HCA Healthcare stock opened at $433.04 on Friday. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $505.45 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $485.06. The company has a market cap of $96.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.26, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.36. HCA Healthcare has a 52-week low of $321.39 and a 52-week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 24th. The company reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $7.19 by ($0.04). HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.97% and a negative return on equity of 409.11%. The firm had revenue of $19.11 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.09 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.45 earnings per share. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare will post 30.15 EPS for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 16th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 16th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.99%.

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

HCA Healthcare is a for‑profit operator of healthcare facilities headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee. Founded in 1968, the company owns and operates a network of hospitals and related healthcare facilities and has grown through organic expansion and acquisitions to become a large provider of inpatient and outpatient services.

The company's core activities include the operation of acute care hospitals, freestanding surgical and emergency centers, and outpatient clinics. HCA's services encompass inpatient care, surgical services, emergency medicine, diagnostic imaging and laboratory testing, and various outpatient and ambulatory care offerings.

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