Robert W. Baird Forecasts Strong Price Appreciation for HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Stock

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) had its price objective increased by equities research analysts at Robert W. Baird from $423.00 to $450.00 in a report issued on Thursday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage currently has a “neutral” rating on the stock. Robert W. Baird’s price target suggests a potential downside of 7.15% from the stock’s previous close.

HCA has been the topic of a number of other reports. Oppenheimer upped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $400.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $412.00 to $431.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 13th. TD Cowen increased their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $460.00 to $495.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised their price target on HCA Healthcare from $485.00 to $525.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and ten have issued a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $475.95.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $484.67 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $110.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.73, a PEG ratio of 1.42 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $465.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $413.62. HCA Healthcare has a 1 year low of $289.98 and a 1 year high of $520.00.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $6.96 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.64 by $1.32. The firm had revenue of $19.16 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.55 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 792.25% and a net margin of 8.53%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.90 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2025 guidance at 27.000-28.000 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that HCA Healthcare will post 24.98 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total transaction of $1,843,990.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 3,487 shares in the company, valued at $1,652,105.73. The trade was a 52.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sovran Advisors LLC raised its position in HCA Healthcare by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sovran Advisors LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,063,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 11.0% during the third quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 222 shares of the company’s stock worth $95,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 3.9% in the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 590 shares of the company’s stock valued at $251,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares during the last quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Angeles Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,014 shares of the company’s stock worth $432,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. Finally, One Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. One Capital Management LLC now owns 2,250 shares of the company’s stock valued at $959,000 after purchasing an additional 24 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.