Zacks Research Research Analysts Cut Earnings Estimates for HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their Q4 2024 earnings estimates for shares of HCA Healthcare in a report issued on Thursday, May 9th. Zacks Research analyst Z. Masood now anticipates that the company will earn $6.00 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $6.07. The consensus estimate for HCA Healthcare's current full-year earnings is $20.79 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for HCA Healthcare's Q3 2025 earnings at $5.74 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $23.15 EPS.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, April 26th. The company reported $5.36 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.01 by $0.35. The business had revenue of $17.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $16.81 billion. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.20% and a return on equity of 674.49%. The business's quarterly revenue was up 11.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $4.93 EPS.

Several other brokerages also recently commented on HCA. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $322.00 to $329.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 29th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $335.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Wednesday, April 10th. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $371.00 to $360.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 30th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $330.00 to $359.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, April 12th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $303.00 to $315.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 28th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $317.00.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HCA traded down $9.47 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $317.18. 1,232,231 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,097,358. The company's 50-day moving average is $321.04 and its two-hundred day moving average is $300.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 29.26, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.02. The company has a market capitalization of $83.07 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.81, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.66. HCA Healthcare has a 1 year low of $215.96 and a 1 year high of $335.83.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 14th will be given a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 14th. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.83%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.16%.

HCA Healthcare announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase plan on Tuesday, January 30th that permits the company to repurchase $6.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization permits the company to repurchase up to 7.4% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company's leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Insider Transactions at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 6,311 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.88, for a total value of $1,999,829.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,387,253.12. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other HCA Healthcare news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 6,311 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $316.88, for a total transaction of $1,999,829.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,624 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,387,253.12. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Chad J. Wasserman sold 344 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $321.97, for a total transaction of $110,757.68. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,452 shares in the company, valued at $789,470.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 11,754 shares of company stock valued at $3,714,312. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in HCA Healthcare by 42.2% in the 3rd quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 43,852 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,787,000 after purchasing an additional 13,019 shares in the last quarter. TIAA Trust National Association purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $308,000. Fifth Third Bancorp grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 6.7% in the 3rd quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 9,960 shares of the company's stock valued at $2,450,000 after buying an additional 624 shares during the last quarter. Precision Wealth Strategies LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at $324,000. Finally, Tranquility Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 13.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tranquility Partners LLC now owns 18,726 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,606,000 after purchasing an additional 2,217 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.