HCA HCA Healthcare Inc

HCA Healthcare is the largest for-profit hospital operator in the United States, managing a network of hospitals, surgery centers, and freestanding emergency rooms. Sector: Healthcare.

HCA Healthcare Inc (HCA) is an individual stock. The analysis below presents key financial metrics for the company, covering profitability, capital efficiency, valuation, margins, and growth.

Examining the company through a capital allocation lens, ROIC is 20.30%, WACC is 9.14%, and the economic spread is 11.16%. On balance, the spread between ROIC and WACC is solidly positive — reinvestment is adding value rather than diluting it. Supporting metrics show ROE at N/A and ROA at 11.88%, a combination that helps frame whether profitability strength is broad enough to hold through different market conditions. Taken together, the return profile suggests a company with credible compounding capacity if current operating execution persists.

Valuation currently screens at trailing P/E of 17.54, forward P/E of 16.40, PEG of 1.34. Trailing and forward P/E are close together, implying the market does not expect a significant change in the earnings trajectory over the near term. A PEG below 1.5 implies the company's growth rate is not fully reflected in the current multiple — a constructive signal for growth-adjusted value. The aggregate current ratio of 0.97 reflects tighter near-term liquidity — a factor worth monitoring if macro conditions tighten. The valuation profile here is neither obviously cheap nor dramatically expensive — a setup where the return case is built more on earnings delivery than on re-rating potential.

From gross to free cash flow, gross margin sits at 41.50%, operating margin at 15.83%, and free cash flow margin at 10.17%. At this gross margin level, the the company demonstrate adequate production efficiency without commanding premium pricing. The operating margin reading is healthy — adequate to support reinvestment without sacrificing profitability. The company's FCF margin is modest — adequate for near-term needs but not indicative of exceptional capital efficiency. The margin profile is mixed, with some layers more resilient than others and less room for execution slippage.

Revenue momentum and analyst targets together paint a picture where the estimated 12-month price change of 4.53%, where target-based return potential appears limited without multiple expansion, while TTM revenue growth of 6.72% reflecting moderate but reliable revenue progress across the company. Reported revenue growth is the operational foundation; the analyst target spread shows what the market is willing to pay above it — and that premium can evaporate quickly if delivery slips. For investors, the central question is whether the operating momentum visible in revenues is durable enough to support the price appreciation implied by consensus targets. The estimated 12-month price change is based on analyst consensus price target estimates, sourced from publicly available data, and should not be interpreted as a reliable prediction of future performance.

The fundamental case holds up across most key dimensions — the combination of positive economic spread, reasonable valuation, and analyst support is constructive.

This summary is based on publicly available quantitative data and is not intended as investment advice. Carefully consider your personal financial circumstances before making any decisions.