Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. Takes Position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 379,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $147,944,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of HCA. State Street Corp increased its stake in HCA Healthcare by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,566,643 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,532,563,000 after buying an additional 76,039 shares during the period. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 4,999,422 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,334,040,000 after acquiring an additional 40,086 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in HCA Healthcare by 0.4% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,663,705 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,702,738,000 after purchasing an additional 13,565 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the fourth quarter valued at $1,262,513,000. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership lifted its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 11.9% in the 4th quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 2,311,112 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,078,966,000 after acquiring an additional 245,887 shares during the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of HCA opened at $412.27 on Wednesday. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $395.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $445.35. The company has a market capitalization of $89.26 billion, a PE ratio of 13.80, a PEG ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.10. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 52 week low of $353.99 and a 52 week high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, July 24th. The company reported $7.59 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $7.56 by $0.03. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.77% and a negative return on equity of 244.79%. The business had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $19.76 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $6.84 earnings per share. HCA Healthcare’s revenue for the quarter was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Investors of record on Wednesday, September 16th will be issued a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, September 16th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.8%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 10.45%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank Of Canada reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $435.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, July 27th. Argus reduced their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $560.00 to $500.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, May 4th. Cantor Fitzgerald reduced their target price on HCA Healthcare from $588.00 to $525.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 7th. Barclays cut their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $402.00 to $387.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Finally, Leerink Partners dropped their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $573.00 to $500.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Fourteen analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have issued a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $465.59.

HCA Healthcare 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.