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HCA Healthcare ( (HCA) ) has issued an update.
HCA Healthcare reported first-quarter 2026 results on April 24, 2026, showing moderate growth in revenue and earnings despite softer volumes driven by a milder respiratory season and weather disruptions. Revenue rose 4.3% year on year to $19.1 billion, net income edged up to $1.62 billion, and adjusted EBITDA grew 1.9% to $3.8 billion, while same-facility equivalent admissions increased 1.3% and higher revenue per equivalent admission helped offset declines in surgical volumes.
The company generated $2.0 billion in operating cash flow and invested $1.1 billion in capital expenditures in the quarter, while repurchasing 3.16 million shares for $1.57 billion and ending March with $940 million in cash and $4.34 billion of available credit facility capacity. Reflecting continued confidence in its cash generation and balance sheet, HCA’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.78 per share payable June 30, 2026, and the company reaffirmed its full-year 2026 guidance, signaling management’s expectation of a mostly stable operating environment despite volume and policy headwinds.
The most recent analyst rating on (HCA) stock is a Buy with a $561.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on HCA Healthcare stock, see the HCA Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on HCA Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, HCA is a Outperform.
The score is driven by strong operating performance and cash generation plus a clearly positive price trend. The biggest offset is elevated balance-sheet risk (high debt and negative equity), and guidance includes meaningful policy/reimbursement headwinds that increase execution risk despite management’s mitigation plans and enhanced shareholder returns.
To see Spark’s full report on HCA stock, click here.
More about HCA Healthcare
HCA Healthcare, Inc. is a large U.S.-based healthcare services provider operating 189 hospitals and about 2,600 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, across 19 states and the United Kingdom. The company focuses on acute care and outpatient services, serving a broad mix of commercial, government and self-pay patients in urban and suburban markets.
As of March 31, 2026, HCA leverages its extensive hospital and ambulatory network to drive same-facility admissions and revenue growth while managing payer mix and reimbursement dynamics. The company’s scale and diversified geographic footprint position it as a major player in the hospital and broader healthcare delivery industry, with significant ongoing capital investment and active capital return programs.
Average Trading Volume: 1,097,166
Technical Sentiment Signal: Buy
Current Market Cap: $106B
See more insights into HCA stock on TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.