HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Shares Gap Down After Earnings Miss

Key Points

• HCA reported Q1 EPS of $7.15, missing consensus (~$7.19) while revenue of $19.11B was roughly in line and up 4.3% year‑over‑year, and the stock gapped down from $474.03 to an open of $430.00 and was trading down about 6.8%.
• FY‑2026 guidance was set at $29.10–$31.50 EPS (midpoint slightly below street consensus of ~ $30.30), a conservative outlook that likely amplified the negative market reaction.
• The board raised the quarterly dividend to $0.78 (annualized $3.12, ~0.7% yield), while insiders have sold roughly 15,214 shares (~$7.8M) in recent months.

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) shares gapped down prior to trading on Friday after the company announced weaker than expected quarterly earnings. The stock had previously closed at $474.03, but opened at $430.00. HCA Healthcare shares last traded at $437.8850, with a volume of 715,487 shares.

The company reported $7.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $7.19 by ($0.04). HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 409.11% and a net margin of 8.97%.The business had revenue of $19.11 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.09 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.45 EPS. 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.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th were paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from HCA Healthcare's previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.7%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.99%.

Key Stories Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Quarter showed continued demand for medical services and beat some profit expectations, supporting underlying volume trends. HCA Healthcare beats quarterly profit estimates on medical care services demand
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue grew 4.3% year‑over‑year to $19.11 billion and slightly exceeded consensus (~$19.09B), indicating healthy top‑line volume growth even as margins were under pressure. HCA Healthcare Reports First Quarter 2026 Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Analysts were actively updating models and price targets into the print; revisions can amplify moves but also reflect that expectations were already being rebalanced ahead of results. HCA Healthcare Earnings Are Imminent; These Most Accurate Analysts Revise Forecasts Ahead Of Earnings Call
• Negative Sentiment: Reported EPS of $7.15 missed consensus narrowly (Zacks ~$7.17; other consensus ~7.19), a disappointment given elevated expectations and the stock’s prior run-up. HCA Healthcare (HCA) Q1 Earnings and Revenues Miss Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $29.10–$31.50 has a midpoint slightly below street consensus (~$30.30) and revenue guidance range ($76.5B–$80.0B) leaves room for downside versus the consensus midpoint—investors often punish guidance that implies slower margin or volume improvement. HCA Healthcare Reports First Quarter 2026 Results

Analyst Ratings Changes

HCA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. UBS Group upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $598.00 to $635.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $442.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 15th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $558.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Leerink Partners upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $507.00 to $573.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $590.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have issued a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $537.36.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 8,020 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $514.58, for a total value of $4,126,931.60. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 11,993 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,171,357.94. This represents a 40.07% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 1,694 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $533.37, for a total value of $903,528.78. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 8,853 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,721,924.61. This represents a 16.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. In the last three months, insiders sold 15,214 shares of company stock valued at $7,797,595. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $29,000. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $31,000. MCF Advisors LLC increased its position in HCA Healthcare by 213.0% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Aventura Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HCA Healthcare Trading Down 6.8%

The firm has a market cap of $98.78 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.49, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 1.36. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $507.59 and a 200 day moving average price of $485.06.

About HCA Healthcare

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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