Wells Fargo & Company Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) had its price objective increased by Wells Fargo & Company from $395.00 to $400.00 in a research note released on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages have also weighed in on HCA. Morgan Stanley began coverage on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $427.00 price objective on the stock. Oppenheimer boosted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Leerink Partners upped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $367.00 to $396.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $376.00 to $396.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Finally, TD Cowen cut their price target on HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $379.39.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

HCA Healthcare stock traded down $18.16 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $348.50. 3,443,821 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,176,662. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $391.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $355.72. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71. HCA Healthcare has a twelve month low of $226.48 and a twelve month high of $417.14. The company has a market cap of $88.28 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 1.68.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.76%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.85%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 8,358 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $385.42, for a total value of $3,221,340.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 29,678 shares in the company, valued at $11,438,494.76. The trade was a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.70% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HCA. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at $27,000. Unique Wealth Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter worth about $28,000. Bangor Savings Bank raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 112.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 85 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lifted its position in HCA Healthcare by 284.0% during the second quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 96 shares of the company's stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 71 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

About HCA Healthcare

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.