Analysts Set HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Target Price at $391.27

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) has earned an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from the seventeen research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $385.27.

HCA has been the subject of several recent research reports. KeyCorp lowered their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $420.00 to $370.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday. TD Cowen cut their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reiterated a “neutral” rating and set a $380.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Wells Fargo & Company cut HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $400.00 to $320.00 in a report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded HCA Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th.

Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In related news, SVP Phillip G. Billington sold 3,897 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.00, for a total transaction of $1,363,950.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,702 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,445,700. This trade represents a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Erol R. Akdamar sold 2,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, November 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $353.00, for a total transaction of $1,023,700.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 6,843 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,415,579. The trade was a 29.76 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.70% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the second quarter worth approximately $33,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at $39,000. Canoe Financial LP bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth $41,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at about $41,000. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $44,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

HCA Healthcare stock opened at $311.19 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $78.82 billion, a PE ratio of 13.97, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.64. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $322.73 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $353.88. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71. HCA Healthcare has a twelve month low of $276.50 and a twelve month high of $417.14.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were given a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.85%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is presently 11.85%.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.