HCA Healthcare (HCA) Stock Price, Fundamentals & Analysis

What HCA does

HCA Healthcare (HCA) is a US stock in the Healthcare sector, specifically the Medical Care Facilities industry. The company owns, manages, and operates hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, and rehabilitation and physical therapy centers across the United States. It also runs physician practices, home health agencies, hospices, and outpatient therapy providers. HCA Healthcare is part of the S&P 500 and is a peer to companies such as Becton Dickinson (BDX), Cooper Companies (The) (COO), Align Technology (ALGN), and Waters Corporation (WAT).

Key numbers explained

• 436.48 USD is the current share price; a single share represents a small ownership slice of the company.
• The trailing P/E ratio of 14.6 shows how much investors pay per dollar of the last 12 months' earnings; a lower number can suggest the stock is cheaper relative to earnings.
• The forward P/E ratio of 13.6 uses expected future earnings, which can be more relevant if the company's profits are expected to grow.
• 29.84 USD is the earnings per share (EPS) for the trailing 12 months, meaning the company earned that amount per share on average.
• The dividend yield of 0.71% is the annual dividend as a percentage of the share price; it is modest compared with high-yield stocks.
• The ex-dividend date of Sep 16, 2026 is the cutoff to own the stock and receive the next dividend payment.
• 10% of earnings are paid out as dividends, meaning the company retains most of its profit for reinvestment.
• 8.8 is the profit margin, showing that HCA Healthcare keeps 8.8 cents of profit from every dollar of revenue.
• 15.2 is the operating margin, reflecting profitability from core operations before interest and taxes.
• 1.11 is the beta, indicating the stock tends to move about 11% more than the overall market.

Recent news

• HCA Healthcare shares moved, and the headline asks what is driving attention today.
• BMO Capital initiated coverage with an Outperform rating and a 495 price target.
• The company acquired a healthcare college, with the headline asking whether training capacity can improve staffing.

What to watch

For a stock like HCA Healthcare, investors typically monitor patient volumes and hospital admissions, which can shift with seasons and public health trends. Reimbursement rates from government and private insurers, labor costs for medical staff, and capital spending on new facilities are also relevant. Because it is part of the S&P 500, broader market moves can affect the share price. Regulatory changes in US healthcare and competition from peers such as Humana (HUM) and Cencora (COR) may also influence the sector. The next earnings report on Oct 23, 2026 will be a key date to watch.