Brokerages Set HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) PT at $382.19

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eighteen ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have given a hold recommendation, twelve have issued a buy recommendation and two have given a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $385.67.

A number of analysts recently issued reports on HCA shares. Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $430.00 to $390.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $400.00 to $320.00 in a report on Monday, November 25th. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $406.00 to $355.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Bank of America decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $370.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $405.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, January 27th.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Erol R. Akdamar sold 2,900 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.00, for a total transaction of $1,023,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 6,843 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,415,579. The trade was a 29.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Phillip G. Billington sold 3,897 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.00, for a total transaction of $1,363,950.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,702 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,445,700. This trade represents a 6.89 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.70% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $39,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth $41,000. Canoe Financial LP bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the third quarter worth $41,000. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at about $44,000. Finally, Friedenthal Financial bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at about $50,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

HCA Healthcare stock opened at $334.65 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $313.33 and a two-hundred day moving average of $353.50. HCA Healthcare has a 1 year low of $289.98 and a 1 year high of $417.14. The stock has a market cap of $84.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 1.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.97.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The company reported $6.22 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.03 by $0.19. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.16% and a return on equity of 586.47%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.90 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare will post 24.89 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a dividend of $0.72 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.86%. This is a boost from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is 12.02%.

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.