Q3 EPS Estimates for HCA Healthcare Lifted by Zacks Research

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) – Research analysts at Zacks Research raised their Q3 2027 EPS estimates for HCA Healthcare in a note issued to investors on Thursday, January 8th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will post earnings of $7.42 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $7.36. Zacks Research currently has a “Hold” rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for HCA Healthcare’s current full-year earnings is $24.98 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for HCA Healthcare’s FY2027 earnings at $32.27 EPS.

A number of other research analysts also recently commented on HCA. Robert W. Baird upped their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $423.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 11th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, December 29th. UBS Group upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $495.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, October 27th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $495.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, January 5th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $431.00 to $452.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, nine have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $485.95.

HCA Healthcare Trading Down 1.4%

HCA Healthcare stock opened at $472.40 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $479.87 and a 200 day moving average price of $427.76. HCA Healthcare has a 52 week low of $295.00 and a 52 week high of $520.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.26, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its earnings results on Friday, October 24th. The company reported $6.96 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.64 by $1.32. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 792.25%. The firm had revenue of $19.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $18.55 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $4.90 EPS. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2025 guidance at 27.000-28.000 EPS.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth approximately $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter worth $27,000. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth about $27,000. Clearstead Trust LLC increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 311.8% in the second quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 70 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holos Integrated Wealth LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other HCA Healthcare news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total value of $1,843,990.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 3,487 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,652,105.73. This represents a 52.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th were paid a $0.72 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, December 15th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is 11.13%.

Trending Headlines about HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: HCA is among the first health systems to access OpenAI’s new healthcare programs — a move that could drive clinical efficiency, faster workflow automation and potential cost savings if deployed broadly across HCA’s network. HCA Healthcare among first to access OpenAI’s new health care programs
• Positive Sentiment: OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Healthcare at several large systems — broader industry adoption reduces implementation risk and can accelerate HCA’s rollout benefits (clinical decision support, patient triage, revenue-cycle automation). OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Healthcare at several large health systems
• Positive Sentiment: HCA and AdventHealth are expanding ER footprints in Florida — inorganic/greenfield capacity additions should help volume growth and market share in a high-margin service line. HCA, AdventHealth expand Florida ER footprints
• Positive Sentiment: A new emergency facility opened in Arlington — incremental capacity and local access that can lift admissions and outpatient revenues. New emergency health facility opens in Arlington
• Positive Sentiment: HCA Florida Capital Hospital and UCF launched a medical residency program — strengthens physician pipeline and could reduce staffing pressures/costs over time. HCA Florida Capital Hospital, UCF create new medical residency program
• Positive Sentiment: An analyst raised HCA’s price target to $520 — a bullish signal that supports upside in the medium term if execution and margins track. HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Price Target Raised to $520.00
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA Georgia hospital named a new CFO — routine executive hire that supports local operations but is not material company‑wide. HCA Georgia hospital taps CFO
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA rolled out a “Talk to a nurse for free” service — positive PR and access initiative but limited immediate financial impact. HCA says: ‘Talk to a nurse for free’
• Negative Sentiment: CEO exit after nine months at an HCA Virginia behavioral health hospital — leadership turnover can signal integration or operational issues in a growing behavioral-health segment. HCA Virginia behavioral health hospital CEO exits after 9 months
• Negative Sentiment: A MarketWatch note flagged HCA’s relative underperformance versus peers on a recent trading day — highlights near‑term downside risk if investors rotate into other healthcare names. HCA Healthcare Inc. stock underperforms Thursday when compared to competitors despite daily gains

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.