Candriam S.C.A. Sells 5,324 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Candriam S.C.A. decreased its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 100,808 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,324 shares during the period. Candriam S.C.A.’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $43,176,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the stock. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 24.7% during the 3rd quarter. SBI Securities Co. Ltd. now owns 111 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 22 shares during the period. Beacon Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.7% in the third quarter. Beacon Capital Management LLC now owns 3,631 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,550,000 after buying an additional 25 shares during the period. Diversify Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3.3% in the third quarter. Diversify Advisory Services LLC now owns 806 shares of the company’s stock valued at $378,000 after buying an additional 26 shares during the period. AdvisorNet Financial Inc raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3.5% during the third quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 994 shares of the company’s stock worth $468,000 after acquiring an additional 34 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Integrated Advisors Network LLC lifted its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.6% in the third quarter. Integrated Advisors Network LLC now owns 5,469 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,334,000 after acquiring an additional 35 shares during the period. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael J. Schlosser sold 1,200 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $494.65, for a total value of $593,580.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 1,443 shares in the company, valued at $713,779.95. This trade represents a 45.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, COO Jon Foster sold 21,713 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, November 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $494.95, for a total value of $10,746,849.35. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer directly owned 10,000 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $4,949,500. The trade was a 68.47% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders have sold a total of 32,913 shares of company stock worth $16,481,129 in the last three months. Insiders own 1.50% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare News Roundup

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

• Positive Sentiment: Investors have welcomed expectations that a Democratic-controlled Congress could provide a policy tailwind for hospitals. However, the anticipated relief is not yet enacted and still depends on legislative and funding steps. HCA Healthcare Gains Policy Tailwind
• Positive Sentiment: HCA is expanding AI tools, with its nurse handoff technology heading to 100 hospitals and ambient AI expected to reach 10,000 physicians by year-end. These deployments could support workflow efficiency. AI nurse handoff tool
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst and technical coverage is supportive: Truist reaffirmed its Buy rating, while Zacks highlighted earnings growth, price strength and a bullish moving-average signal. Truist reaffirms Buy rating Zacks stock outlook
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA completed a $6.5 billion senior notes offering. The report confirms the financing but gives limited detail on its use or effect on borrowing costs. Senior notes offering
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA’s AI chief emphasized that delaying a rollout can be appropriate, suggesting a measured approach that may limit near-term adoption while managing implementation risks. HCA AI rollout strategy
• Negative Sentiment: One report flagged potential payer pressure in HCA’s 2027 outlook, a concern for future hospital reimbursement and margins. Payer pressure outlook
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz LLP said it is investigating investor claims involving HCA. The announcement provides no findings, but the inquiry may create a legal overhang. Investor investigation announcement

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 2.6%

Shares of HCA stock opened at $494.44 on Friday. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $443.66 and a 200-day moving average of $445.25. The company has a market cap of $103.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.11. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 52 week low of $353.99 and a 52 week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $7.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.65 by $0.57. The company had revenue of $19.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.33 billion. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.61% and a negative return on equity of 198.52%. HCA Healthcare’s quarterly revenue was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $6.96 EPS. Analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 30.15 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 15th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.34%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts have weighed in on HCA shares. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $496.00 to $521.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $490.00 to $425.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, August 20th. KeyCorp lifted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $435.00 to $490.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. Finally, Oppenheimer dropped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $520.00 to $485.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Sixteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, seven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $480.13.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals and other care facilities. Its services include inpatient and outpatient care, emergency treatment, surgery, diagnostic services and specialized care across areas such as cancer and cardiovascular medicine.

The company serves patients in the United States and the United Kingdom through its network of hospitals and outpatient facilities, including surgery centers, urgent care clinics and physician practices.

Founded in 1968, HCA Healthcare is headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee.