Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC Sells 5,161 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 3.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 152,027 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,161 shares during the period. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC owned about 0.07% of HCA Healthcare worth $73,545,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of HCA. Cerity Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 13.1% during the third quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 43,920 shares of the company’s stock worth $18,719,000 after acquiring an additional 5,092 shares during the period. National Pension Service increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. National Pension Service now owns 626,585 shares of the company’s stock worth $267,051,000 after purchasing an additional 17,531 shares in the last quarter. Savant Capital LLC lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 37.7% in the third quarter. Savant Capital LLC now owns 4,548 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,938,000 after purchasing an additional 1,246 shares in the last quarter. Sector Gamma AS grew its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 36.0% during the third quarter. Sector Gamma AS now owns 10,883 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,638,000 after buying an additional 2,883 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AlphaQuest LLC lifted its stake in HCA Healthcare by 2,855.2% in the 3rd quarter. AlphaQuest LLC now owns 5,999 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,557,000 after acquiring an additional 5,796 shares in the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:HCA opened at $493.61 on Monday. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $510.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $474.02. The company has a market capitalization of $110.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.34. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 52-week low of $314.43 and a 52-week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 27th. The company reported $8.01 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $7.37 by $0.64. HCA Healthcare had a negative return on equity of 409.11% and a net margin of 8.97%.The company had revenue of $19.51 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.67 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $6.22 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% compared to the same quarter last year. HCA Healthcare has set its FY 2026 guidance at 29.100-31.500 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 17th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from HCA Healthcare’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is 10.99%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have recently issued reports on HCA. Leerink Partners lifted their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $507.00 to $573.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. TD Cowen lifted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $529.00 to $561.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 10th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, February 14th. UBS Group upped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $598.00 to $635.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, February 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on HCA Healthcare from $420.00 to $535.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Friday, February 20th. Sixteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, HCA Healthcare has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $537.73.

Insider Activity at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael R. Mcalevey sold 1,694 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $533.37, for a total transaction of $903,528.78. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 8,853 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,721,924.61. This trade represents a 16.06% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 8,020 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $514.58, for a total value of $4,126,931.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 11,993 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,171,357.94. This represents a 40.07% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders have sold a total of 15,214 shares of company stock worth $7,797,595 in the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the company’s stock.

Key Headlines Impacting HCA Healthcare

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

• Positive Sentiment: Jim Cramer publicly recommended buying HCA, calling it a buy in “big clumps,” which can drive retail interest and short‑term inflows. Jim Cramer on HCA Healthcare
• Positive Sentiment: HCA hospitals received regional/national recognition (Ocala hospitals praised for patient safety; HCA Florida North Florida Hospital named to America’s 250 Best Hospitals), which supports brand, referrals and patient volumes. Ocala hospitals honored for excellence in patient safety
• Positive Sentiment: HCA Florida North Florida Hospital included among America’s 250 Best Hospitals, reinforcing quality credentials that can protect pricing and payer relationships. HCA Florida North Florida Hospital among America’s 250 Best Hospitals
• Positive Sentiment: Virginia regulators approved new hospitals/expansions that include HCA projects, supporting medium‑term revenue growth and market share in that region. State approves three Chesterfield hospital projects
• Neutral Sentiment: Human-interest coverage (a North Carolina NICU St. Patrick’s Day feature) highlights community care but is unlikely to move the stock materially. North Carolina NICU Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day
• Negative Sentiment: HCA’s board urged shareholders to reject a proposal for fuller reporting on the aftermath of the 2019 Mission sale — a governance/oversight flashpoint that can raise investor concern and activist interest. HCA board urges shareholders to reject proposal
• Negative Sentiment: An HCA hospital CEO is leaving for Beth Israel Lahey Health — an executive departure that may be seen as local leadership turnover and could modestly concern investors about continuity in affected markets. HCA hospital CEO heads to Beth Israel Lahey Health

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.