Q1 EPS Estimates for HCA Healthcare Lowered by Analyst

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) – Zacks Research decreased their Q1 2026 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for HCA Healthcare in a report released on Tuesday, February 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team now forecasts that the company will earn $6.93 per share for the quarter, down from their previous forecast of $7.04. 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 Q2 2026 earnings at $7.18 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $7.06 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $8.14 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $8.02 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $8.18 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $7.96 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $9.28 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $33.44 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $37.67 EPS.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $8.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.97% and a negative return on equity of 409.11%. The company had revenue of $19.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.22 EPS. HCA Healthcare’s revenue was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS.

HCA has been the topic of a number of other research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $558.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, October 25th. Stephens boosted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $588.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, KeyCorp set a $503.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $523.27.

HCA Healthcare Trading Up 5.8%

Shares of HCA opened at $530.95 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.71, a P/E/G ratio of 1.54 and a beta of 1.36. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $480.78 and its two-hundred day moving average is $446.23. HCA Healthcare has a twelve month low of $295.00 and a twelve month high of $534.59.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This is a boost from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.15%.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.09, for a total value of $747,135.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 30,003 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,944,194.27. This trade represents a 4.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 13.1% in the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 43,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,719,000 after acquiring an additional 5,092 shares in the last quarter. Swiss National Bank raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 4.3% during the second quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 558,900 shares of the company’s stock worth $214,115,000 after purchasing an additional 23,100 shares during the period. Savant Capital LLC lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 37.7% in the third quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 4,548 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,938,000 after acquiring an additional 1,246 shares during the last quarter. Cherokee Insurance Co acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $3,869,000. Finally, Sector Gamma AS lifted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 36.0% in the third quarter. Sector Gamma AS now owns 10,883 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,638,000 after buying an additional 2,883 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

More HCA Healthcare News

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple near‑ and long‑term EPS forecasts for HCA (Q2–Q4 2026, several quarters in 2027, FY2027 and FY2028), boosting modeled future profitability even though Zacks retains a “Hold” rating — this analyst upgrade is a primary driver of the stock move.
• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s outpatient expansion continues to reshape its care network, increasing lower‑cost, higher‑margin ambulatory volumes that can lift revenue growth and operating margins over time. HCA’s outpatient boom reshapes its care network
• Positive Sentiment: StoneSprings Hospital Center plans to convert a deli into a freestanding ER in Chantilly — a localized capacity expansion to capture ED volume and downstream admissions/surgeries, signaling continued investment in site-of-care growth. HCA’s StoneSprings Hospital Center looks to turn Chantilly deli into freestanding ER
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA ASC real estate was sold — this monetizes noncore assets and can free cash (positive) but may imply sale‑leaseback obligations (costs) depending on terms; impact depends on deal structure and use of proceeds. HCA ASC real estate sold
• Neutral Sentiment: An HCA veteran has taken a COO role at Memorial Health (Georgia/Florida reports) — routine executive movement that highlights HCA’s management bench but likely has limited direct impact on HCA’s near‑term results. Former HCA Florida executive joins Memorial Health as COO HCA veteran named COO of Memorial Health in Georgia
• Neutral Sentiment: Other local developments and community activity (interfacility transport partnerships, Habitat build, internal nursing leadership moves) are operational/CSR items that support reputation and network functioning but are unlikely to move earnings materially in the near term. AmeriPro Health expands Fla. operations with new interfacility transport partnership HCA Healthcare leaders join Habitat build in Dorchester County HCA Missouri hospital taps chief nurse

HCA Healthcare Company Profile

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.