Zacks Research Estimates HCA Healthcare FY2026 Earnings

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) – Analysts at Zacks Research issued their FY2026 earnings per share estimates for HCA Healthcare in a report issued on Monday, August 10th. Zacks Research analyst Team forecasts that the company will earn $29.40 per share for the year. The consensus estimate for HCA Healthcare’s current full-year earnings is $29.45 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for HCA Healthcare’s FY2028 earnings at $34.24 EPS.

Several other research firms have also issued reports on HCA. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft set a $476.00 price target on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, July 27th. Jefferies Financial Group set a $450.00 target price on HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, July 14th. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $435.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Monday, July 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group decreased their price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Raymond James Financial set a $528.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Fourteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $465.59.

HCA Healthcare Trading Down 0.6%

Shares of NYSE HCA opened at $411.55 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.10 billion, a PE ratio of 13.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.10. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $390.75 and its 200-day moving average is $447.87. HCA Healthcare has a 1 year low of $353.99 and a 1 year high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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 firm had revenue of $20.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $19.76 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $6.84 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was up 8.7% on a year-over-year basis.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. grew its stake in HCA Healthcare by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Sumitomo Life Insurance Co. now owns 2,026 shares of the company’s stock valued at $946,000 after acquiring an additional 20 shares in the last quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 2.9% during the fourth quarter. MJP Associates Inc. ADV now owns 749 shares of the company’s stock valued at $350,000 after purchasing an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 7.5% in the fourth quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 300 shares of the company’s stock worth $140,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Anchyra Partners LLC grew its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 3.7% during the 1st quarter. Anchyra Partners LLC now owns 587 shares of the company’s stock valued at $278,000 after buying an additional 21 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Plato Investment Management Ltd raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.6% during the 4th quarter. Plato Investment Management Ltd now owns 3,908 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,833,000 after acquiring an additional 22 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.8%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.45%.

HCA Healthcare News Summary

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

• Positive Sentiment: HCA’s Tennessee hospital appointed a new chief executive, providing a leadership update that could support local operations, although the move is unlikely to materially affect the broader company in the near term. HCA Tennessee hospital taps CEO
• Neutral Sentiment: HCA’s former CFO discussed the importance of partnerships in healthcare. The comments may reinforce the strategic value of collaboration and care-network development, but they do not indicate a new financial initiative or immediate change to HCA’s earnings outlook. HCA Healthcare’s former CFO on the role of partnerships in health
• Negative Sentiment: Healthcare workers at HCA hospitals are pushing for higher pay and increased staffing. Potential wage increases, labor-related disruptions and continued staffing shortages could raise operating costs and pressure margins, while criticism over staffing may create reputational risks. HCA workers push for higher pay and more staffing amid billions in profits
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks Research lowered EPS forecasts for HCA’s third and fourth quarters of 2026, multiple quarters in 2027 and the first two quarters of 2028. Its FY2027 estimate fell to $31.27 from $32.32, while the Q3 2026 forecast declined to $6.79 from $7.23. These broad estimate cuts are likely the main catalyst for the stock’s decrease because they imply softer-than-previously-expected earnings momentum.

HCA Healthcare Company 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.