With a market cap of $105.8 billion, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. Founded in 1968, the Nashville, Tennessee-based company operates general and acute care hospitals that offer medical and surgical services, emergency services, and outpatient services. The company is slated to report its fiscal first-quarter earnings for FY2026 on Friday, Apr. 24, before the market opens.
Ahead of the event, analysts expect HCA to report a profit of $7.19 per share on a diluted basis, up 11.5% from $6.45 per share in the year-ago quarter. The company beat Wall Street’s EPS estimates in all of its last four quarterly reports, which is impressive.
For the current year, analysts expect HCA to report EPS of $30.17, representing a 7% rise from $28.21 in fiscal 2025. Its EPS is expected to improve by 10.1% year over year to $33.21 in fiscal 2027.
HCA shares have surpassed the broader market over the past 52 weeks, surging 37.3% compared to the S&P 500’s ($SPX) 16.7% gain and the State Street Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLV) 3.1% rise during the same period.
SLB has outperformed the broader market over the past year primarily due to strong global energy demand and elevated oil prices, which boosted spending by oil & gas producers on drilling and production services. The company has also benefited from robust international growth, higher-margin offshore and digital operations, and improved pricing power in a tight supply environment. Additionally, SLB’s strategic pivot toward technology-driven and low-carbon solutions has strengthened investor confidence and supported its earnings momentum.
Analysts’ consensus opinion on HCA stock is reasonably bullish, with a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Out of 25 analysts covering the stock, 14 advise a “Strong Buy” rating, one suggests a “Moderate Buy,” nine give a “Hold,” and the remaining analyst advocates a “Strong Sell.”
HCA's average analyst price target is $548.57, indicating a potential upside of 15.5% from the current levels.
On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. For more information please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.
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