pretickt

Is HCA a good stock to buy?

HCA Healthcare, Inc. · end-of-day data as of Nov 13, 2026

HCA Healthcare
HCA · $104B
$499.05-0.3%
Nov 13, 2026 · close
$400$450$500SepOctNov9:3016:003 months +21.4%Nov 13 · close
▲ 7
  • ConsensusBuy · 26
  • P/E vs sector-48.7%
  • FCF yield+5.7%
  • News
  • MAs4 of 4
  • MACD0.99
  • Sector▲ +15.9%
Neutral
  • Earnings in74d
  • P/E16.5x
  • RSI61
  • Support-4.1%
  • Resistance+1.8%
  • Off 52w high-10.3%
  • Volume0.7x
  • Bollingerupper half
  • Trendsideways
  • 52w range$354–$557
  • ATR+3.1%
  • Off ATH-10.3%
▼ 3
  • PT$472.79 -5.3%
  • P/E vs own+10.4%
  • Insiders-$18.25M

Updates with the 15-min delayed price. Not a forecast or investment advice.

Is HCA Healthcare a good stock to buy?

HCA Healthcare is strong on 3 of the 5 questions about the business. The price is about usual: 16.5 times its earnings, near its 3-year median of 15.7 (Nov 13, 2026). pretickt does not say whether to buy or sell.

  1. Demand steady
  2. Advantage some edge
  3. Economics profits growing
  4. Execution delivers
  5. Fragility sturdy
  6. Price about usual
DemandDo people want more of what it sells?steady

HCA sales growth revenue growth

+8%a year, for the last 3 years

HCA Healthcare's sales grew 8% a year for 3 years, to $75.6B in fiscal 2025.

HCA analysts' forecast revenue estimates

+5%the sales they expect next fiscal year, on the last

Analysts expect HCA Healthcare's sales to grow 5% to $79.17B in fiscal 2026 (18 analysts).

HCA peers

pretickt analysis+6%its sales in 12 months, on a year before

HCA Healthcare's sales grew 6% in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, slower than Regeneron (+19%), Universal Health Services (+8%), CVS Health (+7%) and DaVita (+6%).

Advantage moatIs it hard to copy?some edge

HCA margin on each sale gross margin

22%left after making the product

HCA Healthcare kept 22% of each sale after making the product in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; its peers' median is 50%.

EconomicsDoes it make good money?profits growing

HCA cash generated free cash flow

$5.97Bcash left after investing, last 12 months

HCA Healthcare generated $5.97B of free cash flow in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026, less than its reported profit.

HCA profit per share

+29%in its last fiscal year

HCA Healthcare's earnings per share grew 29% in fiscal 2025, to $28.38.

ExecutionDoes it deliver what it promises?delivers

HCA earnings vs estimates

8 of 8quarters above the analysts' estimate

HCA Healthcare beat the analysts' profit estimate in each of its last 8 quarters, the latest on Oct 27, 2026.

HCA insider selling

-$47.53Msold, net, by its executives in 12 months

HCA Healthcare's executives and directors sold a net $47.53M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.

HCA number of employees

+1%more people in a year

HCA Healthcare had 320,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 1% more than a year before.

HCA CEO pay

$26.46Mfor fiscal 2025, 64% of it in stock and options

HCA Healthcare paid its CEO $26.46M for fiscal 2025, 64% of it in stock and options.

Fragility risksCould something break it?sturdy

HCA financial health Altman Z-score

2.6Altman Z-score, safe above 3

HCA Healthcare's Altman Z-score is 2.6 (Nov 13, 2026), between 1.8 and 3, the grey zone.

HCA quality checks Piotroski score

5 of 9checks passed

HCA Healthcare passes 5 of the 9 Piotroski checks in the 12 months to Sep 30, 2026; it misses on long-term debt, the current ratio, gross margin and sales for its assets.

HCA in past recessions

pretickt analysis0%its sales in the worst one

HCA Healthcare's sales did not fall in any of the last 2 US recessions (2008–09 and 2020).

Price valuationIs the price reasonable?about usual

HCA price vs profit P/E ratio

16.5×a year's earnings

HCA Healthcare's P/E ratio is 16.5 (Nov 13, 2026), near its 3-year median of 15.7.

HCA price vs peers

pretickt analysis16.5×a year's earnings, against its peers

Investors pay 16.5 times HCA Healthcare's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for DaVita (13.7), CVS Health (10.4) and Universal Health Services (8.1), less than for Regeneron (21.1).

HCA analysts' target price target

-5%to their average target

Analysts' average price target for HCA Healthcare is $473, 5% below the Nov 13, 2026 close of $499.05.

HCA growth priced in fair value

pretickt analysis+5%a year, for ten years, to be worth the price

At $499.05 a share, HCA Healthcare's free cash flow must grow about 5% a year for ten years to be worth the price (Nov 13, 2026).

What is HCA Healthcare's P/E ratio?

HCA Healthcare's P/E ratio is 16.5 (Nov 13, 2026), near its 3-year median of 15.7. Investors pay 16.5 times HCA Healthcare's earnings (Nov 13, 2026), more than for DaVita (13.7), CVS Health (10.4) and Universal Health Services (8.1), less than for Regeneron (21.1).

Are insiders selling HCA Healthcare stock?

HCA Healthcare's executives and directors sold a net $47.53M of shares in the 12 months to Nov 13, 2026; none bought.

How many employees does HCA Healthcare have?

HCA Healthcare had 320,000 employees at the end of fiscal 2025, 1% more than a year before.

From the companies' statements (FMP), their filings read by pretickt, the analysts and the insiders, as of Nov 13, 2026. Each card says what a fact means for its question, never what to do with the stock: for information only, not investment advice.