Nashville, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is a health care services company. With a market cap of $92.9 billion, it owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities including ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, comprehensive rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, hospices, and various other facilities. 

Shares of HCA have outpaced the broader market over the past 52 weeks. HCA has soared 18.8% over this time frame, while the broader S&P 500 Index ($SPX) has gained 11.9%. Moreover, shares of HCA are up 28.6% on a YTD basis, compared to SPX’s 1% rise.

Looking closer, HCA Healthcare has also outperformed the Healthcare Select Sector SPDR ETF Fund’s (XLV) 7.7% drop over the past 52 weeks and 2.1% decline on a YTD basis.

HCA Healthcare stock tumbled 4% after it released its Q1 2025 results on Apr. 25. The company posted revenue of $18.3 billion, a 5.7% increase from the prior-year quarter, surpassing the Wall Street expectations. Adjusted EBITDA rose 11.3% year-over-year to $3.7 billion, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 20.4%. Adjusted EPS stood at $6.45, up 20.3% from the same quarter last year and beating the consensus estimate of $5.77.

Additionally, for fiscal 2025, HCA expects revenue to range between $72.8 billion and $75.8 billion, with adjusted EPS projected between $24.05 and $25.85. 

For the current fiscal year, ending in December 2025, analysts expect HCA’s adjusted EPS to increase 15.2% year-over-year to $25.29. Moreover, the company's earnings surprise history is strong. It beat the consensus estimates in the last four quarters. 

Among the 24 analysts covering the stock, the consensus rating is a “Moderate Buy.” That’s based on 15 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” seven “Holds,” and one “Strong Sell.”

This configuration is less bullish than three months ago, with 17 “Strong Buy” ratings on the stock.

On May 13, BofA Securities analyst Kevin Fischbeck raised HCA's price target to $410 while maintaining a “Buy” rating. 

As of writing, HCA Healthcare is trading slightly above the mean price target of $382.14. The Street-high price target of $438 implies a potential upside of 13.5% from the current price levels.