Wedge Capital Management L L P NC increased its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA – Free Report) by 21.7% in the second quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 81,008 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 14,468 shares during the period. Wedge Capital Management L L P NC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $31,584,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.
A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HCA. Norges Bank purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $1,262,513,000. Life Cycle Investment Partners Ltd purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the fourth quarter worth approximately $374,037,000. Viking Global Investors LP boosted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 58.5% in the second quarter. Viking Global Investors LP now owns 1,872,133 shares of the company’s stock valued at $717,214,000 after purchasing an additional 690,773 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 4,545.5% during the 4th quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 663,337 shares of the company’s stock worth $309,686,000 after purchasing an additional 649,058 shares during the period. Finally, Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 5,941.1% during the 1st quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund now owns 381,433 shares of the company’s stock worth $180,509,000 after buying an additional 375,119 shares in the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
HCA Healthcare News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting HCA Healthcare this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Zacks Research modestly increased its HCA EPS estimate for the second quarter of fiscal 2027 to $7.97 from $7.89. However, this isolated increase was outweighed by broader estimate reductions.
- Positive Sentiment: HCA’s former CFO discussed the potential role of partnerships in healthcare, which could support strategic growth and operating efficiency over time. HCA Healthcare’s former CFO on the role of partnerships in health
- Neutral Sentiment: A Tennessee HCA hospital appointed a new chief executive. The leadership change may affect local operations but does not appear to materially alter the broader investment outlook. HCA Tennessee hospital taps CEO
- Negative Sentiment: Zacks reduced its FY2026 EPS estimate to $29.40, nearly matching the $29.45 consensus, and cut its FY2027 forecast to $31.27 from $32.32. Its FY2028 estimate fell to $34.24 from $36.61.
- Negative Sentiment: Several quarterly forecasts were also lowered, including Q3 2026 EPS to $6.79 from $7.23, Q4 2026 to $7.87 from $8.17, Q1 2027 to $7.48 from $7.60, Q3 2027 to $7.20 from $7.74, Q4 2027 to $8.61 from $9.09, and Q1 2028 to $7.87 from $8.25. The pattern implies softer anticipated earnings momentum.
- Negative Sentiment: HCA workers are pushing for higher pay and increased staffing, creating potential labor-cost, retention and reputational risks. Such pressure could weigh on margins if the company makes meaningful compensation or staffing concessions. HCA workers push for higher pay and more staffing amid billions in profits
HCA Healthcare Price Performance
HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 244.79% and a net margin of 8.77%.The business had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $6.84 EPS. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.45 EPS for the current fiscal year.
HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend
The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be given a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is currently 10.45%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
HCA has been the topic of several recent research reports. Wall Street Zen cut shares of HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $369.00 to $381.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 3rd. Sanford C. Bernstein reissued a “market perform” rating on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Wednesday, July 15th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, July 14th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $396.00 to $393.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $465.59.
View Our Latest Analysis on HCA
HCA Healthcare 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.
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