HCA Healthcare Inc (HCA) Stock Analysis
Verdict: WATCH (do not buy)
Payer-mix deterioration and guidance cuts have broken the growth thesis, turning HCA into a value-trap until insurance volatility subsides.
Investment score: 42/100
Analysis as of
Is HCA Healthcare Inc stock worth reviewing? The TradeMates thesis
Avoid HCA following a major guidance cut and technical breakdown driven by worsening payer dynamics.
7-factor investment score
- Valuation: 55/100 (weight 20%)
- Financial Health: 40/100 (weight 15%)
- Technical Momentum: 20/100 (weight 15%)
- Earnings Quality: 35/100 (weight 15%)
- Insider Sentiment: 30/100 (weight 10%)
- Analyst Consensus: 50/100 (weight 10%)
- Risk-Adjusted Return: 45/100 (weight 15%)
HCA Healthcare Inc opportunities and risks
What speaks for HCA
- Strong Free Cash Flow Generation
What speaks against HCA
- Ongoing Payer-Mix Deterioration
Peers and competitors
| Ticker | P/E | P/S | EV/EBITDA | Gross margin | Net margin | FCF yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCA | 12.3x | 1.0x | 8.2x | 34.9% | 8.9% | 9.9% |
| THC | 9.4x | 0.7x | 5.3x | 42.8% | 7.9% | 21.4% |
| EHC | 17.6x | 1.7x | 9.1x | 58.8% | 10.0% | 4.4% |
| ENSG | 26.2x | 1.8x | 19.2x | 13.9% | 6.9% | 4.2% |
| UHS | 6.0x | 0.5x | 5.0x | 71.3% | 8.6% | 9.8% |
| PACS | 28.7x | 1.3x | 23.2x | 19.2% | 4.5% | 3.4% |
| Peer median | 17.6x | 1.3x | 9.1x | 42.8% | 7.9% | 4.4% |
Frequently asked questions about HCA Healthcare Inc (HCA)
Is HCA stock a good investment?
The TradeMates model rates HCA Healthcare Inc as WATCH (do not buy) with an investment score of 42/100. Avoid HCA following a major guidance cut and technical breakdown driven by worsening payer dynamics. This is algorithmic model output, not personal investment advice.
Is HCA stock a buy?
The TradeMates model verdict for HCA is WATCH (do not buy) with an investment score of 42/100. Treat this as a model signal to review, not a personal buy recommendation.