Robert W. Baird Cuts HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) Price Target to $393.00

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) had its target price trimmed by Robert W. Baird from $396.00 to $393.00 in a research note released on Monday morning, Marketbeat reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also recently issued reports on HCA. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $490.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 19th. TD Cowen reduced their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $500.00 to $431.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, June 22nd. Argus dropped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $500.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 4th. Finally, Wall Street Zen downgraded HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. Fourteen 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.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $465.05.

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 2.3%

Shares of HCA opened at $408.39 on Monday. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $386.80 and its two-hundred day moving average is $452.03. The stock has a market cap of $90.60 billion, a PE ratio of 13.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.46 and a beta of 1.12. HCA Healthcare has a 52-week low of $342.71 and a 52-week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The company had revenue of $20.23 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $6.84 EPS. HCA Healthcare’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare will post 29.38 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 10.45%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HCA. Palisade Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at $26,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare during the first quarter worth about $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 213.0% in the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 72 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 49 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Basepoint Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter worth $35,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s stock outperformed peers during a broadly strong trading session, suggesting some investor support despite recent concerns. HCA stock outperforms competitors
• Positive Sentiment: RBC reiterated its “Outperform” rating, while Mizuho maintained an “Outperform” view and set a $475 price target, implying substantial upside from the recent trading level. RBC reiterates Outperform Mizuho price target
• Positive Sentiment: HCA appointed experienced executives to lead two Tampa hospitals, including a former Oak Hill Hospital executive, and named Jordan Fulkerson chief financial officer of HCA Florida Memorial Hospital. The moves may support local operating continuity. Tampa hospital leadership appointments Memorial Hospital CFO appointment
• Neutral Sentiment: KeyCorp, Truist, and Baird lowered or tempered their HCA price expectations, although the changes reflect analyst caution rather than a broad withdrawal of coverage. KeyCorp set a $435 target, while RBC remained positive. KeyCorp lowers price target Baird forecast Truist price outlook
• Negative Sentiment: A judge rejected a key HCA argument concerning its obligations to provide services at Mission Hospital. Separately, Dogwood Health Trust reported potential noncompliance with the contract governing HCA’s Mission Health acquisition. These developments raise the risk of additional costs, enforcement actions, or operating restrictions. Mission Hospital court ruling Mission contract compliance concerns
• Negative Sentiment: Pomerantz announced an investigation into potential investor claims involving HCA, adding legal overhang and possible reputational risk, although the announcement does not establish wrongdoing. Pomerantz investor investigation

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.