HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) earns a Roarable Rating of A- (Buy) with 81/100 RQD Confidence. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 19% return on capital) with steady institutional support. The company’s underlying cash engine and institutional positioning keep the composite score in the Green Buy zone.
As of 2026-11-02, HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: HCA) is rated A- (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 81/100 at a spot price of $473.19 (-1.02% 1D, market cap $103.51B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 18/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 18/20. Across 1016 tracked Health Care issuers, HCA ranks #13 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Health Care sector (Hospital/Nursing Management), HCA carries a Roarable A- (81/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 15.3x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 18.9%. By comparison, THC (Tenet Healthcare Corporation) holds a B grade (74/100 RQD, P/E 9.2x, ROIC 27.6%, cap $21.79B) and EHC (Encompass Health Corporation) posts a B+ grade (77/100 RQD, P/E 22.9x, ROIC 13.8%, cap $12.97B). Among the 5-stock peer group, UHS leads on earnings multiple (7.0x) while THC leads on capital efficiency (27.6% ROIC).
Per HCA's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000860730), HCA Healthcare Inc. generated $75.60B in revenue (+7.1% YoY), $6.78B in net income, and $7.69B in free cash flow against $60.72B in total assets and $41.60B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (steady margins)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
Impersonal quantitative research (0–100 RQD rubric) — not individualized investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Full Disclaimer
SEC XBRL FY 2025 (10-K): 10.2% FCF Margin ($7.69B FCF) & 52% Gross Margin
SEC Form 4 / 13F Thermometer: 86% Net Buy • Cannibal Buyback (-2.92% YoY Shares)
Macro rate sensitivity & RSI-14 (62.6) create a -6 pt regime headwind
Even with a 81/100 (A-) score, HCA faces multiple-compression risk if 15.3x trailing P/E re-rate toward historical sector medians or if hyperscaler/enterprise customer concentration slows in upcoming 10-Q filings.
Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.
Dilution & Margin Drag: Cannibal Buyback (-2.92% YoY Shares) — any gross margin slip below 49.5% triggers an automatic RQD downgrade.
Technical & Forensic Kill-Switch: A daily close below the 50D SMA ($439.37) or 200D SMA ($444.41) invalidates the momentum regime and cuts Target Base ($522.17) toward Bear Floor ($388.02).
HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) slipped -1.02% to $473.19, trading at 59% of its 52-week range ($353.99 – $556.52). High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 19% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Reuters report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investor's Business Daily report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Motley Fool report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
NASHVILLE, Tenn., November 02, 2026--HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE: HCA) today announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, HCA Inc., proposes to offer senior notes, subject to market and other considerations. Actual terms o
Wells Fargo analyst Stephen Baxter maintains HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) with a Equal-Weight and raises the price target from $381 to $468.
Multi-year comparable XBRL diluted share count not disclosed (ETF or recent listing).
vs. +7.1% actual YoY revenue growth (assuming 9.25% cost of equity & 16.5x terminal multiple).
No active Ellis Vennor swing setup published on HCA today. View full Setup Ledger →
No direct multi-tier Butterfly edges indexed yet for HCA. Explore sector supply chains on /butterfly.
Across 1016 tracked Health Care securities in the Roarable RQD universe, HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) ranks #13 by composite RQD confidence (81/100, grade A-) and #23 by equity capitalization ($103.51B). Within this direct 5-issuer industry benchmark cohort, UHS leads on earnings valuation at 7.0x trailing P/E, while THC leads on capital efficiency and profitability with 27.6% ROIC and — gross margin. HCA currently leads its immediate peer cohort in composite quantitative strength at 81/100 (A-).
| Ticker / Company | Roarable Grade | RQD Score | Trailing P/E | Gross Margin | ROIC | 1D Change | Market Cap | Head-to-Head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCA
ACTIVE
HCA Healthcare Inc. | A- | 81/100 | 15.3x | — | 18.9% | -1.02% | $103.51B | Benchmark Subject |
| THC Tenet Healthcare Corporation | B | 74/100 | 9.2x | — | 27.6% | +0.99% | $21.79B | /thc-vs-hca → |
| EHC Encompass Health Corporation | B+ | 77/100 | 22.9x | — | 13.8% | +3.35% | $12.97B | /ehc-vs-hca → |
| ENSG The Ensign Group Inc. | B | 72/100 | 31.6x | 20.1% | 18.0% | -2.58% | $10.87B | /ensg-vs-hca → |
| UHS Universal Health Services Inc. | C | 63/100 | 7.0x | — | 14.1% | -0.32% | $10.41B | /uhs-vs-hca → |
In its most recent audited fiscal period (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31), HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) reported GAAP revenue of $75.60B (+7.1% vs. FY2024 revenue of $70.60B , and +16.4% cumulative change since FY2023) , GAAP net income of $6.78B, operating cash flow of $12.64B, and free cash flow of $7.69B (+36.4% YoY). On the balance sheet, HCA closed FY2025 with $60.72B in total assets against $41.60B in total debt (Altman Z-Score: 3.68, Piotroski F-Score: 8/9).
| Fiscal Period | Filing Date | Revenue | Net Income | Operating Cash Flow | Free Cash Flow | Total Assets | Total Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 (FY) | 2025-12-31 | $75.60B | $6.78B | $12.64B | $7.69B | $60.72B | $41.60B |
| FY2024 (FY) | 2024-12-31 | $70.60B | $5.76B | $10.51B | $5.64B | $59.51B | $38.33B |
| FY2023 (FY) | 2023-12-31 | $64.97B | $5.24B | $9.43B | $6.51B | $77.96B | $18.24B |
As of 2026-11-02, HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE: HCA) is rated A- (Buy / BUY) by Roarable's 5-pillar RQD engine with a composite confidence score of 81/100 at a spot price of $473.19 (-1.02% 1D, market cap $103.51B). Pillar breakdown: Fundamental Cash Engine 18/20, Institutional 13F & Options Flow 15/20, Executive Insider Alignment 16/20, FRED Macro Regime Fit 14/20, and SEC Balance-Sheet Forensics 18/20. Across 1016 tracked Health Care issuers, HCA ranks #13 in composite RQD confidence.
Within the Health Care sector (Hospital/Nursing Management), HCA carries a Roarable A- (81/100 RQD), trailing P/E of 15.3x, gross margin of —, and ROIC of 18.9%. By comparison, THC (Tenet Healthcare Corporation) holds a B grade (74/100 RQD, P/E 9.2x, ROIC 27.6%, cap $21.79B) and EHC (Encompass Health Corporation) posts a B+ grade (77/100 RQD, P/E 22.9x, ROIC 13.8%, cap $12.97B). Among the 5-stock peer group, UHS leads on earnings multiple (7.0x) while THC leads on capital efficiency (27.6% ROIC).
Per HCA's SEC EDGAR XBRL 10-K filing (FY2025, filed 2025-12-31, CIK 0000860730), HCA Healthcare Inc. generated $75.60B in revenue (+7.1% YoY), $6.78B in net income, and $7.69B in free cash flow against $60.72B in total assets and $41.60B in total debt. Key quantitative strengths: Strong cash generator (steady margins)—profits are backed by real money, not accounting tricks.. Primary risk factors monitored: Broader market pullbacks can still drag down strong stocks in the short run.. Institutional options positioning shows a 50% call / 50% put premium split.
HCA last traded at $473.19 (-1.02% on volume of 1,120,496 shares), positioning the stock +7.70% above its 50-day simple moving average ($439.37) and +6.48% above its 200-day simple moving average ($444.41). Across its 52-week range of $353.99 to $556.52, HCA sits at the 58.9% percentile with a 14-day RSI of 62.6 (BULLISH MOMENTUM) and an implied next-earnings move of ±7.0% ($440.07 to $506.31).
Why HCA Stock slipped -1.02% Today — RQD Quant Desk Flash. High-quality cash engine (steady margins, 19% return on capital) with steady institutional support.
Per the Roarable RQD rating, HCA carries an RQD Score of 81 with a letter grade of A-, labeled "Roarable Buy — Superior Risk/Reward." The five pillars are:
Taken together, the investor takeaway is that the rating's strongest support comes from cash generation and insider activity, with the balance sheet a close third. The main limiting factor is macro regime fit. Valuation is a tradeoff to weigh: per the market data, the stock trades at a P/E (TTM) of 15.3 and a forward P/E of 14.2, with an EV/EBITDA of 11.5, and it sits at $478.08 within a 52-week range of $353.99 to $556.52. A prospective investor should evaluate whether the cash-flow and balance-sheet strengths justify the current price relative to that range.
| Period | Revenue | Operating Income | Net Income | EPS | FCF | Cash | Debt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY 2025 | $75600.0M | $8005.1M | $6784.0M | N/A | $7692.0M | $1040.0M | $41603.0M |
| FY 2024 | $70603.0M | $6796.8M | $5760.0M | N/A | $5639.0M | $1933.0M | $38333.0M |
| FY 2023 | $64968.0M | $6185.6M | $5242.0M | N/A | $6507.4M | N/A | $18243.0M |
Per the SEC financials, revenue, operating income, net income, and free cash flow each increased across the three reported periods. Per the market data, operating margin is 10.9% and net margin is 9%, with ROIC of 18.9%. Per the RQD rating, the Altman Z-Score is 3.68 and the Piotroski F-Score is 8/9, and Debt/Equity is 0.85. Reported debt rose from $18243.0M in FY 2023 to $41603.0M in FY 2025, a trend a careful reader should note alongside the stable Debt/Equity reading, which the source does not reconcile against equity levels.
Per the recent news and catalysts section, six items were reported:
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, there are no butterfly links and no proprietary signals. Not available in source data for proprietary supply-chain signal analysis.
Per the Butterfly Supply-Chain Graph, supply_chain is "NONE," with no butterfly links and no proprietary signals. Upstream and downstream dependencies, sector correlations, and second-order bottlenecks cannot be mapped from the source data. The investor-relevant ripple that the news wire does surface is the Medicaid payment reduction referenced in the RED-flagged Reuters item, which bears on reimbursement for a hospital operator; the source does not quantify its effect. Not available in source data for further supply-chain or sector correlation detail.
Real-time company headlines, analyst actions, and sector developments for HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) • Click "Debate This Headline" to argue it in the Roar Pit below
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Reuters report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investor's Business Daily report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
The Motley Fool report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Investing.com report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Yahoo Finance report covering HCA Healthcare Inc. (HCA) market action, institutional positioning, and fundamental catalysts.
Welcome to the HCA (HCA Healthcare Inc.) Roar Pit. Current RQD Composite is 81/100 (Roarable Buy — Superior Risk/Reward) in Hospital/Nursing Management. Bulls point to capital efficiency (18.9% ROIC), while bears focus on macro rate sensitivity and margin execution. Pick your side (🐂 Bull or 🐻 Bear) and drop your price target below.
Everyone in here is repeating the bull case on HCA, but look at what you are paying: 15.3x trailing P/E with tightening sector spreads. Unless HCA Healthcare Inc. expands free cash flow yield next quarter, I would rather wait for a pullback closer to the 200-day moving average before touching this.
Looking at the 5-pillar RQD breakdown on HCA, the market is fixating on short-term headline noise in Hospital/Nursing Management and ignoring the balance sheet and cash flow trajectory. At $478.08 (52-wk range $353.99 - $556.52), any beat on forward guidance forces shorts and underweight funds to chase.
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