HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA)
HCA Healthcare is one of the largest operators of hospitals and surgery centres in the United States, providing a wide range of medical services to patients.
Is HCA Healthcare, Inc. a good stock for a UK beginner?
The honest version: HCA Healthcare is one of the largest operators of hospitals and surgery centres in the United States, providing a wide range of medical services to patients.
Over about 2 years to 2026-07-31. This is the share price only - reinvesting the dividends would add to it. And it's the USD return - as a UK investor your actual £ return also moves with the exchange rate. Past performance is not a guide to the future, and it could just as easily have fallen.
Based on beta - how much the price swings versus the whole market. Bumpier isn't bad; it just means a rougher ride, which matters more the sooner you might need the money.
Prices move on results, news and the mood of the whole market - no single headline explains a day, and a quiet week is usually just noise, not a signal.
An ageing population drives sustained, long-term demand for hospital care.
Significant disruption to the US healthcare funding model.
What does HCA Healthcare, Inc. do?
HCA runs a massive network of hospitals and clinics across the US, making money by charging for patient care, surgeries, and emergency services. Because they operate on such a large scale, they are a major player in the American healthcare system. Rising staffing costs, and whether they can keep drawing in enough patients to fill their beds, are the things to keep tabs on.
On our factor screen it looks strongest on value and income, and weakest on momentum.
- ✓Pays a dividend - about 0.8% a year
- ✓Growing - revenue up about 9% over the year
- Value screens high (80/100)
- Dominant scale as one of the largest US hospital operators
- Consistent revenue growth from essential services
- Strong gross margins indicating efficient core operations
- Changes in government healthcare policy or funding
- Potential for increased competition in outpatient care
- Rising costs of medical supplies and technology
What do HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s numbers mean?
How much money does HCA Healthcare, Inc. make?
Revenue and profit by quarter, and how much of each sale turns into profit.
Does HCA Healthcare, Inc. pay a dividend?
Yes - HCA Healthcare, Inc. currently pays a dividend of about 0.8% a year (the yearly payout as a share of the price). A dividend is a slice of profit handed to shareholders; the yield moves as the price moves, and a company can cut or stop it.
When does HCA Healthcare, Inc. report earnings, and how did recent quarters go?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. is next scheduled to report on about 2026-10-23 - dates can move, and we don't predict results; this just tells you when to look.
Each quarter a company reports its results against what analysts expected. ‘Beating’ or ‘missing’ is about that expectation, not whether the business is doing well in absolute terms.
| Reported | Expected EPS: The earnings per share analysts expected for the quarter - the average of their forecasts. 'Beating' or 'missing' is measured against this number. | Actual EPS | vs expected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-07-24 | $7.50 | $7.59 | Beat +1% |
| 2026-04-24 | $7.13 | $7.15 | In line |
| 2026-01-27 | $7.48 | $8.01 | Beat +7% |
| 2025-10-24 | $5.73 | $6.96 | Beat +22% |
| 2025-07-25 | $6.32 | $6.84 | Beat +8% |
| 2025-04-25 | $5.75 | $6.45 | Beat +12% |
Across the last 6 quarters here, HCA Healthcare, Inc. came in ahead of what analysts expected 5 times. One quarter is noise, not a trend.
See who else reports over the next two weeks →
Reported vs expected earnings per share (EPS) from published results; the expectation is the analyst consensus, not our view. Report dates are estimates that can move.
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Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.What are the scenarios for HCA Healthcare, Inc.?
An illustrative range for the year ahead, with the assumption behind each case — not a prediction or a price target.
What are the pros and cons of HCA Healthcare, Inc.?
How many points the write-up makes each way — a balance check, not a score or verdict.
- Dominant scale as one of the largest US hospital operators
- Consistent revenue growth from essential services
- Strong gross margins indicating efficient core operations
- High sensitivity to labour costs and staffing shortages
- Relies heavily on complex US insurance and government reimbursement systems
- Significant capital expenditure required to maintain facilities
- Changes in government healthcare policy or funding
- Potential for increased competition in outpatient care
- Rising costs of medical supplies and technology
The write-up's own warning lights — if these start happening, the case above changes.
- A major overhaul of the US healthcare insurance system
- A sustained, long-term decline in hospital admission rates
Built from public filings & market prices, checked for an education-only tone, and never a price target. How we make these →
This plain-English summary was auto-generated on 2026-08-01 from public data and checked for an education-only, no-advice tone (the figures above carry their own, usually fresher, 'as of' date). It's information, never a recommendation.