Meeder Advisory Services Inc. Takes Position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. $HCA

Meeder Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) in the 2nd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor acquired 5,936 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,314,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Palisade Asset Management LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. MidFirst Bank bought a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Clearstead Trust LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter worth about $29,000. Ares Financial Consulting LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Cedar Mountain Advisors LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the first quarter valued at approximately $33,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 1.8%

NYSE HCA opened at $412.27 on Wednesday. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $395.07 and a 200-day moving average price of $445.35. The firm has a market cap of $89.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.80, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.40 and a beta of 1.10. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a twelve month low of $353.99 and a twelve month high of $556.52.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last posted its quarterly earnings results 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 company had revenue of $20.23 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $19.76 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $6.84 EPS. The firm’s revenue was up 8.7% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 29.47 EPS for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Dividend Announcement

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

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $425.00 to $380.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, July 27th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their price target on HCA Healthcare from $558.00 to $485.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Wall Street Zen downgraded HCA Healthcare from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 2nd. Mizuho reduced their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $525.00 to $475.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. Finally, Truist Financial lowered their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $535.00 to $495.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, July 27th. Fourteen investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eight have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $465.59.

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.