HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Sets New 12-Month High – What’s Next?

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) shares hit a new 52-week high during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $529.53 and last traded at $527.6130, with a volume of 841332 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $502.05.

Key Stories Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research raised multiple near‑ and medium‑term EPS forecasts for HCA (several quarters in 2026–2027 and FY2027/FY2028), increasing FY2027 to $33.44 and FY2028 to $37.67 — a sign analysts expect stronger profitability ahead, which supports valuation expansion and likely contributed to today’s upside.
• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s recent reported quarter beat EPS expectations and the company provided FY2026 guidance (29.10–31.50 EPS), which underpins analyst upgrades and investor confidence in the company’s core hospital and outpatient earnings power.
• Positive Sentiment: Becker’s: HCA’s outpatient expansion is reshaping its care network — growth in outpatient services can increase revenue per visit, lower costs versus inpatient care, and improve long‑term margins if execution remains strong. HCA’s outpatient boom reshapes its care network
• Neutral Sentiment: AmeriPro Health expanded Florida operations with a new interfacility transport partnership — incremental operational partnerships can improve patient flow to HCA facilities but are likely immaterial to near‑term earnings. AmeriPro Health expands Fla. operations with new interfacility transport partnership
• Neutral Sentiment: Becker’s: HCA Missouri named a new chief nurse — routine leadership changes typically have limited immediate financial impact but matter for operational execution. HCA Missouri hospital taps chief nurse
• Neutral Sentiment: Local PR: HCA leaders participated in a Habitat for Humanity build spotlighting community health — positive for reputation and local engagement but unlikely to move earnings near term. HCA Healthcare leaders join Habitat build
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks trimmed its Q1 2026 EPS estimate slightly (from $7.04 to $6.93) — a modest near‑term downward revision that signals some caution around early‑year volume/mix or margins, though it appears outweighed by the broader upgrades elsewhere.

Analyst Ratings Changes

HCA has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. TD Cowen reissued a “buy” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Argus raised their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $530.00 to $560.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, February 6th. UBS Group raised their price target on HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $598.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $540.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $558.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Sixteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $523.27.

HCA Healthcare Trading Up 5.8%

The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $479.90 and its 200 day simple moving average is $445.63. The firm has a market capitalization of $121.16 billion, a PE ratio of 18.71, a PEG ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.36.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $8.01 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64. The company had revenue of $19.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.67 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 409.11% and a net margin of 8.97%.The firm’s revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $6.22 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS. Analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 17th. This is a positive change from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is presently 10.99%.

Insider Activity at HCA Healthcare

In related news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 1,500 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $498.09, for a total transaction of $747,135.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 30,003 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,944,194.27. This represents a 4.76% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. MJP Associates Inc. ADV grew its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 2.9% in the fourth quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 749 shares of the company’s stock worth $350,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares during the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 7.5% during the fourth quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 300 shares of the company’s stock valued at $140,000 after acquiring an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Sovran Advisors LLC grew its stake in HCA Healthcare by 1.0% in the third quarter. Sovran Advisors LLC now owns 2,278 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,063,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 11.0% during the third quarter. Centerpoint Advisors LLC now owns 222 shares of the company’s stock valued at $95,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Finally, Cary Street Partners Financial LLC increased its position in HCA Healthcare by 3.9% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC now owns 590 shares of the company’s stock valued at $251,000 after purchasing an additional 22 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

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.