HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Issues Earnings Results

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday. The company reported $8.01 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.37 by $0.64, Zacks reports. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 792.25% and a net margin of 8.53%.HCA Healthcare’s revenue was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.22 earnings per share.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:HCA opened at $473.08 on Tuesday. HCA Healthcare has a 12 month low of $295.00 and a 12 month high of $520.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $107.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.29, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $480.29 and its 200 day moving average price is $434.98.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on HCA shares. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $470.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. Raymond James Financial set a $525.00 price target on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, October 27th. Sanford C. Bernstein restated a “market perform” rating and set a $503.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $482.00 to $525.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, December 19th. Finally, Mizuho boosted their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 18th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $488.75.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, November 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $473.79, for a total transaction of $1,843,990.68. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 3,487 shares in the company, valued at $1,652,105.73. This trade represents a 52.74% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Viking Global Investors LP lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 58.5% during the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 1,872,133 shares of the company’s stock worth $717,214,000 after purchasing an additional 690,773 shares during the period. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI lifted its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 3,755.9% in the 3rd quarter. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd FI now owns 269,912 shares of the company’s stock worth $115,036,000 after acquiring an additional 262,912 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 83.3% during the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 399,197 shares of the company’s stock worth $169,951,000 after acquiring an additional 181,464 shares during the period. Abdiel Capital Advisors LP boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 35.5% in the 2nd quarter. Abdiel Capital Advisors LP now owns 646,222 shares of the company’s stock valued at $247,568,000 after purchasing an additional 169,201 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. raised its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 634.0% during the 2nd quarter. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. now owns 123,219 shares of the company’s stock worth $47,205,000 after buying an additional 146,295 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds 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.