HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Short Interest Update

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of October. As of October 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,860,000 shares, an increase of 6.7% from the September 30th total of 2,680,000 shares. Approximately 1.5% of the company’s shares are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,120,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.6 days.

HCA Healthcare Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of HCA stock traded down $1.26 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $357.48. 669,176 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,162,005. HCA Healthcare has a 1 year low of $225.32 and a 1 year high of $417.14. The stock has a market cap of $92.25 billion, a PE ratio of 16.10, a PEG ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.12, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $393.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $353.85.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Investors of record on Friday, December 13th will be given 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 0.74%. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio is currently 11.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 8,358 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, September 12th. The stock was 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 in the company, valued at $11,438,494.76. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.60% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On HCA Healthcare

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in HCA Healthcare in the second quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Unique Wealth Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Bangor Savings Bank raised its stake in HCA Healthcare by 112.5% in the 2nd quarter. Bangor Savings Bank now owns 85 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 45 shares during the last quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC increased its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare by 284.0% in the 2nd quarter. GPS Wealth Strategies Group LLC now owns 96 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 71 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Performance Advisors LLP acquired a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently weighed in on HCA shares. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an “overweight” rating and set a $392.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Barclays lifted their target price on HCA Healthcare from $376.00 to $396.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 24th. Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, September 3rd. They set an “equal weight” rating and a $427.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on HCA Healthcare from $378.00 to $405.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 23rd. Finally, Wolfe Research upgraded HCA Healthcare to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 29th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and three have assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $379.11.

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.