HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA Stock: Pzena Investment Management LLC Grows Holdings

Pzena Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 3.2% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 99,648 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,050 shares during the period. Pzena Investment Management LLC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $42,524,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of HCA. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new position in HCA Healthcare during the first quarter valued at about $33,000. MidFirst Bank bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $29,000. Latitude Advisors LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, Delos Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HCA opened at $510.31 on Thursday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $440.51 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $444.90. The company has a market capitalization of $106.60 billion, a PE ratio of 16.91, a PEG ratio of 1.55 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 posted its earnings results on Tuesday, October 27th. The company reported $7.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $6.65 by $0.57. The business had revenue of $19.85 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.33 billion. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 198.52% and a net margin of 8.61%. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter was up 3.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $6.96 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast 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 given a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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

HCA has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Truist Financial restated a “buy” rating and set a $510.00 price target (up from $495.00) on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group dropped their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $635.00 to $579.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Bank of America upped their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $500.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 28th. Royal Bank Of Canada raised their target price on HCA Healthcare from $496.00 to $521.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Finally, Weiss Ratings raised HCA Healthcare from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 8th. 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 stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $480.13.

Key Stories Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Hospitals and health insurers rallied after Democrats’ midterm gains, a sector-wide move that likely helped lift HCA. The coverage does not specify which policy changes investors expect. Article: Health insurers, hospitals rally after sweeping midterm win for Democrats
• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s quarterly results beat expectations: adjusted earnings were $7.22 per share versus a $6.65 consensus estimate, and revenue was $19.85 billion versus $19.33 billion. Revenue grew 3.6% year over year. Article: Why HCA Healthcare is a top growth stock for the long term
• Positive Sentiment: Wells Fargo raised its price target on HCA, while Truist reaffirmed its Buy rating and lifted its target to $510 from $495. These moves signal continued analyst support. Article: HCA Healthcare stock gets price target boost from Wells Fargo Article: Truist reaffirms Buy rating
• Positive Sentiment: HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest introduced next-generation robotic-assisted surgical technology, which may strengthen its service offering and competitive position. Article: HCA Houston Healthcare Northwest introduces robotic-assisted surgical technology
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA is planning a $300 million hospital in Cape Coral, with $31 million in city incentives. The project supports expansion, though its investment and execution costs may take time to translate into returns. Article: Cape Coral lands $300 million HCA hospital
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA launched a senior-notes offering; the article listing does not provide details on terms or intended use of proceeds, so the effect on leverage is unclear. Article: HCA Healthcare launches senior notes offering
• Negative Sentiment: Uninsured-patient costs reportedly shifted by $400 million in HCA’s third-quarter payer mix, a potential headwind to profitability. Article: HCA Q3 revenue by payer as uninsured shift costs $400M
• Negative Sentiment: Reports of data breaches involving HCA raise potential privacy, regulatory, and reputational concerns; the article listing does not specify the impact. Article: Data breaches announced by HCA Healthcare
• Negative Sentiment: A law firm announced an investigation into claims on behalf of HCA investors. An investigation is not a finding of wrongdoing, but it can create legal and reputational uncertainty. Article: Pomerantz investigates claims on behalf of HCA investors

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, Inc is a healthcare services company that operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, emergency care facilities, physician practices and other healthcare sites. Its facilities provide a broad range of services, including acute and emergency care, surgery, cardiology, oncology, women’s and children’s services, behavioral health and outpatient care.

The company serves patients primarily across the United States through a network of healthcare facilities in numerous states.