HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Shares Gap Up on Better-Than-Expected Earnings

Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) gapped up before the market opened on Tuesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The stock had previously closed at $472.38, but opened at $505.00. HCA Healthcare shares last traded at $517.5850, with a volume of 746,310 shares changing hands.

The company reported $8.01 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.53% and a negative return on equity of 792.25%. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $6.22 EPS. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter 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.

Key Stories Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 earnings beat — HCA reported $8.01 EPS vs. consensus ~ $7.36, up from $6.22 a year ago, showing solid operating leverage and margin improvement that investors reward. HCA Healthcare (HCA) Beats Q4 Earnings Estimates
• Positive Sentiment: Management says 2026 profit should come in above Wall Street estimates, citing robust demand for medical services and expectations for lower costs — a forward-looking comment that supports multiple expansion and confidence in cash flow. HCA Healthcare forecasts 2026 profit above estimates
• Positive Sentiment: FY‑2026 EPS guidance of $29.10–$31.50 (consensus ~ $29.54) implies meaningful upside at the top of the range and supports the street’s forward estimates — guidance detail is in the company release. View Press Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Revenue guidance range of $76.5B–$80.0B vs. consensus ~$79.2B — the midpoint is close to expectations, but the wide band creates some uncertainty around growth cadence for the year. View Press Release
• Neutral Sentiment: Q4 revenue rose about 6.7% year-over-year — healthy top-line growth but less attention-grabbing than the EPS beat and margin commentary. View Press Release
• Negative Sentiment: Reported a highly unusual negative return on equity figure (‑792.25%), a red flag for some investors who will dig into one‑time items, capital-structure effects or accounting drivers behind that metric. This could prompt volatility until investors get clarity. View Press Release

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stephens raised their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, October 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $470.00 to $520.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 27th. KeyCorp reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $500.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Thursday. Morgan Stanley downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and set a $425.00 price target for the company. in a report on Monday, December 15th. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $505.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report 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 issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $488.75.

Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 3,892 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 3,487 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,652,105.73. The trade was a 52.74% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 1.30% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of HCA Healthcare

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at about $26,000. Ameriflex Group Inc. acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $27,000. Chung Wu Investment Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter valued at about $27,000. Clearstead Trust LLC boosted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 311.8% in the second quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 70 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Holos Integrated Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HCA Healthcare Trading Up 11.3%

The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $480.29 and its 200 day simple moving average is $434.98. The stock has a market capitalization of $119.92 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.31, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.36.

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.