HCA rises 3.2% as bullish guidance and capital-return plans stay in focus amid fresh analyst target hikes

HCA Healthcare (HCA) is up 3.2% today. Here is some analysis on what might have caused this price movement.

Analysis: The move appears tied to investors continuing to price in HCA’s upbeat 2026 outlook and shareholder-return plans, alongside a new wave of analyst price-target increases following the company’s recent results. Increased visibility from management’s March investor-conference appearances may also be reinforcing confidence in the 2026 setup.

Details:

HCA reaffirmed a 2026 outlook when it reported fourth-quarter 2025 results, giving investors a clearer framework for earnings and revenue expectations this year.

The company also announced an additional share repurchase authorization of up to $10 billion, which can support per-share earnings and signal confidence in cash generation.

HCA declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.78 per share payable March 31, 2026 (stockholders of record as of March 17, 2026), highlighting an emphasis on ongoing capital returns.

In recent days, at least one major bank analyst raised its HCA price target, citing core growth assumptions that were viewed as stronger than previously expected.

Sources:

HCA Healthcare Investor Relations, Morningstar (Business Wire), TipRanks

Disclaimer: This price movement analysis was generated with the help of AI. Please double-check the information provided for mistakes.

$HCA Insider Trading Activity

$HCA insiders have traded $HCA stock on the open market 13 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 13 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $HCA stock by insiders over the last 6 months:

SAMUEL N HAZEN (CEO) has made 0 purchases and 7 sales selling 42,877 shares for an estimated $21,483,274.
JENNIFER BERRES (SVP & Chief Human Res. Officer) has made 0 purchases and 2 sales selling 8,020 shares for an estimated $4,126,950.
MICHAEL R MCALEVEY (EVP & Chief Legal & Admin Off.) has made 0 purchases and 2 sales selling 5,586 shares for an estimated $2,747,527.
CHRISTOPHER F. WYATT (SVP & Controller) sold 4,000 shares for an estimated $2,020,000
MICHAEL S. CUFFE (EVP and Chief Clinical Officer) sold 1,500 shares for an estimated $747,135

To track insider transactions, check out Quiver Quantitative's insider trading dashboard.

$HCA Hedge Fund Activity

We have seen 607 institutional investors add shares of $HCA stock to their portfolio, and 671 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.

Here are some of the largest recent moves:

UBS AM, A DISTINCT BUSINESS UNIT OF UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC removed 5,306,304 shares (-77.3%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $2,477,301,085
FMR LLC added 1,928,240 shares (+101.2%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $900,218,126
BANK OF AMERICA CORP /DE/ removed 1,319,037 shares (-63.6%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $615,805,613
PACER ADVISORS, INC. removed 911,096 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $425,354,278
NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL WEALTH MANAGEMENT CO added 649,058 shares (+4545.5%) to their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $303,019,217
JPMORGAN CHASE & CO removed 627,849 shares (-21.0%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $293,117,584
DIAMOND HILL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT INC removed 618,170 shares (-92.9%) from their portfolio in Q4 2025, for an estimated $288,598,846

To track hedge funds' stock portfolios, check out Quiver Quantitative's institutional holdings dashboard.

$HCA Congressional Stock Trading

Members of Congress have traded $HCA stock 1 times in the past 6 months. Of those trades, 0 have been purchases and 1 have been sales.

Here’s a breakdown of recent trading of $HCA stock by members of Congress over the last 6 months:

REPRESENTATIVE LISA C. MCCLAIN sold up to $15,000 on 09/11.

To track congressional stock trading, check out Quiver Quantitative's congressional trading dashboard.

$HCA Analyst Ratings

Wall Street analysts have issued reports on $HCA in the last several months. We have seen 12 firms issue buy ratings on the stock, and 1 firms issue sell ratings.

Here are some recent analyst ratings:

Oppenheimer issued a "Outperform" rating on 01/28/2026
Truist Securities issued a "Buy" rating on 01/28/2026
Deutsche Bank issued a "Buy" rating on 01/28/2026
Barclays issued a "Overweight" rating on 01/28/2026
Jefferies issued a "Buy" rating on 01/28/2026
Morgan Stanley issued a "Underweight" rating on 12/15/2025
TD Cowen issued a "Buy" rating on 10/27/2025

To track analyst ratings and price targets for $HCA, check out Quiver Quantitative's $HCA forecast page.

$HCA Price Targets

Multiple analysts have issued price targets for $HCA recently. We have seen 18 analysts offer price targets for $HCA in the last 6 months, with a median target of $550.5.

Here are some recent targets:

Ryan Langston from TD Cowen set a target price of $561.0 on 03/10/2026
Ann Hynes from Mizuho set a target price of $585.0 on 02/25/2026
Andrew Mok from UBS set a target price of $635.0 on 02/23/2026
Benjamin Rossi from JP Morgan set a target price of $535.0 on 02/20/2026
David Toung from Argus Research set a target price of $560.0 on 02/06/2026
Stephen Baxter from Wells Fargo set a target price of $481.0 on 01/30/2026
Ben Hendrix from RBC Capital set a target price of $555.0 on 01/28/2026

This article is not financial advice. See Quiver Quantitative's disclaimers for more information. Note that there may be inaccuracies due to mistakes in ticker-mapping, and other anomalies.