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HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA), headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities. Valued at $94.6 billion by market cap, the company provides diagnosis, treatments, consultancy, nursing, surgeries, and other services, as well as medical education, a physician resource center, and training programs.
Shares of this healthcare service provider have underperformed the broader market over the past year. HCA has gained 7.3% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has rallied nearly 13.3%. However, in 2025, HCA’s stock rose 34.7%, surpassing the SPX’s 8.3% rise on a YTD basis.
Narrowing the focus, HCA’s outperformance is apparent compared to the iShares U.S. Healthcare Providers ETF (IHF). The exchange-traded fund has declined about 18.4% over the past year. Moreover, HCA’s double-digit gains on a YTD basis outshine the ETF’s 3.3% losses over the same time frame.
On Jul. 25, HCA shares closed down more than 2% after reporting its Q2 results. Its revenue increased 6.4% year over year to $18.6 billion. The company’s adjusted EPS came in at $6.84, up 24.4% from the year-ago quarter.
For the current fiscal year, ending in December, analysts expect HCA’s EPS to grow 19.8% to $26.30 on a diluted basis. The company’s earnings surprise history is impressive. It beat the consensus estimate in each of the last four quarters.
Among the 26 analysts covering HCA stock, the consensus is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on 13 “Strong Buy” ratings, two “Moderate Buys,” and 11 “Holds.”
This configuration is less bullish than a month ago, with 14 analysts suggesting a “Strong Buy.”
On Aug. 4,Benjamin Rossi from JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM) maintained a “Hold” rating on HCA with a price target of $370.
While HCA currently trades above its mean price target of $401.14, the Street-high price target of $444 suggests a 9.8% upside potential.
On the date of publication, Neha Panjwani did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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