Forsta AP Fonden Purchases 4,100 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Forsta AP Fonden raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 7.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 55,700 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,100 shares during the period. Forsta AP Fonden’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $22,638,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Unique Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Bangor Savings Bank increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 112.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 85 shares of the company’s stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares in the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC lifted its position in HCA Healthcare by 284.0% during the second quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 96 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 71 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

HCA Healthcare stock traded down $35.35 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $363.55. 4,263,823 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,102,547. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $395.26 and its 200-day moving average price is $352.63. The stock has a market capitalization of $93.82 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.08, a P/E/G ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 1.67. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 1 year low of $220.55 and a 1 year high of $417.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 27.11, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 0.94.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 23rd. The company reported $5.50 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.97 by $0.53. HCA Healthcare had a return on equity of 553.13% and a net margin of 8.40%. The business had revenue of $17.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.05 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.29 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 22.48 EPS for the current fiscal year.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.73%. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is 12.39%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have weighed in on HCA shares. Barclays upped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $376.00 to $396.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating and issued a $392.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $359.00 to $375.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, June 28th. KeyCorp assumed coverage on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Friday, October 11th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $475.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded shares of HCA Healthcare to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twelve have assigned a buy rating and four have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $377.17.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 8,358 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $385.42, for a total value of $3,221,340.36. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 29,678 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,438,494.76. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, SVP Kathleen M. Whalen sold 2,987 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $363.51, for a total transaction of $1,085,804.37. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 9,454 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $3,436,623.54. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 8,358 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $385.42, for a total value of $3,221,340.36. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,678 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $11,438,494.76. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 15,345 shares of company stock valued at $5,747,945. 1.60% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

About HCA Healthcare

HCA Healthcare, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.