August 24, 2023
Top 10 Stock HCA Strong Buy Recommendation
How to read the ranks
For every stock, we judge its performance against its peers and rank it on a scale of 1 to 100. The higher the rank, the better the stock performs than its peers. And, we do this for six investment strategies:
Value - shows how good of a value the stock is. Green is "inexpensive"; red is "expensive".
Growth - shows a company's growth potential. Green is "high growth" expected; red is "tough times ahead".
Safety - relates to the amount of debt a company has. Green is low debt level; red is high debt level.
Combined Financial - this isn't an average of the first three ranks but rather a consolidated view across several financial indicators. Green = good; red = tread carefully.
(NEW) Sentiment - quantifies professional analyst ratings and holdings as well as market pulse. Green = positive sentiment; red = skepticism (Only available to Premium Subscribers).
(NEW) 360° View - the ultimate rating with all financial and non-financial indicators.
Snapshot: HCA – Top 10 Stock in Dow Jones U.S. Health Care Providers Index
HCA is listed as a top 10 stock on August 24, 2023 in the market index D.J. US Health Care because of its high performance in at least one of the Obermatt investment strategies. While only half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, the professional market sentiment is positive and it may be a solid investment proposition, especially if a growth recovery is to be expected soon. Based on the Obermatt 360° View of 88 (top 88% performer), Obermatt assesses an overall strong buy recommendation for HCA on August 24, 2023.
Snapshot: Obermatt Ranks
| Country | USA |
| Industry | Health Care Facilities |
| Index | Dividends USA, D.J. US Health Care, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
When Obermatt identifies the Top 10 stocks in a market, it’s based on a certain investment strategy. The best performing stocks usually aren’t the ones that everyone is talking about (those are often "over-priced" and have low Value ranks).
For each investment strategy, we provide you with more detailed analysis and our recommendation. You see the ranks of the top 10 stocks ranked by that particular investment strategy (360° View, Sentiment, Value, Growth, Safety and Combined Financial Performance).
360° View: Obermatt 360° View HCA Strong Buy
| 360 METRICS | August 24, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 96 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 45 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 18 |
|
||||||
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 96 |
|
||||||
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 88 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt 360° View of 88 (better than 88% compared with alternatives) for 2023, overall professional sentiment and financial characteristics for the stock HCA are very positive. The 360° View is based on consolidating four consolidated indicators, with half the metrics below and half above average for HCA. The consolidated Value Rank has an attractive rank of 96, which means that the share price of HCA is on the lower side compared with the typical size in indicators such as revenues, profits, and invested capital. This means that the stock price is lower than for 96% of alternative stocks in the same industry. The consolidated Sentiment Rank has a good rank of 96, which means that professional investors are more optimistic about the stock than for 96% of alternative investment opportunities. But the consolidated Growth Rank has a low rank of 45, which means that the company exhibits below-average growth momentum when looking at financial metrics such as revenue, profit, invested capital growth, and stock returns. The consolidated Safety Rank has a riskier rank of 18, meaning the company has a riskier financing structure than 82 comparable companies when looking at the amount of its debt, its refinancing requirements, and its ability to service debt. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated 360° View of 88, HCA is better positioned than 88% of all alternative stock investment opportunities based on the Obermatt Method. Half of the consolidated Obermatt Ranks exhibit above-average performance, but the other half are below market levels. The company enjoys a good value (Value Rank of 96) and positive market sentiment in the professional investor community (Sentiment Rank of 96), but growth expectations are below-average (Growth Rank of 45) and the financing structure is on the risky side(Safety Rank of 18). This combination is rather dangerous, because high debt levels (low safety) require growth to finance the debt burden. The current low growth level may be temporary, because professionals are actually optimistic (positive sentiment). Good value is sometimes an indication that the company's future is challenging. The below-par growth performance may be the reason for this assessment. Companies with less growth typically have a lower price than fast-growing competitors. Even though professional investor sentiment is strong, we recommend further evaluating whether the future of HCA is as challenging as the stock's low price suggests. Since the professional community is optimistic, the stock might just be going through a more challenging phase now, indicating that timing might be good now. ...read more
Sentiment Strategy: Professional Market Sentiment for HCA very positive
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Sentiment Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2023, overall professional sentiment and engagement for the stock HCA is very positive. The Sentiment Rank is based on consolidating four sentiment indicators, with all four indicators above average for HCA. Analyst Opinions are at a rank of 76 (better than 76% of alternative investments), which means that, currently, stock research analysts tend to recommend a stock investment in the company. Analyst Opinions Change is also positive with a rank of 87, which means that stock research experts are changing their opinions for the better and recommending investing in the company. They are getting more optimistic about stock investments in HCA. The Professional Investors rank is 100, which means that currently, professional investors hold more stock in this company than in 100% of alternative investment opportunities. Pros tend to favor investing in this company. Finally, Market Pulse has a rank of 64 which means that the current professional news and professional social networks are on the positive side when discussing this company (more positive news than for 64% of competitors). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Sentiment Rank of 96 (more positive than 96% compared with investment alternatives), HCA has a reputation among professional investors that is significantly higher than that of its competitors. Since all market sentiment indicators are positive, the professional community highly recommends investment in the company. Does this mean HCA stocks are a safe investment? Far from it. Even professionals make mistakes. Especially in stock investing, there is a tendency to follow the leaders. Since trees don't grow to the heavens, such positive sentiment may also be interpreted as a danger sign. A lot of optimism can often be a sign of troubles to come, albeit unforeseen by most. ...read more
Value Strategy: HCA Stock Price Value at the top
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 96 (better than 96% compared with alternatives) for 2023, HCA shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators that are all above average for HCA. Price-to-Sales is 53 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future sales is lower than for 53% of comparable companies, indicating a good value for HCA's revenue size. The same is valid for expected Price-to-Profits, more favorable than for 74% of alternatives, and this is also true for the Price-to-Book capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 100. Compared with other companies in the same industry, dividend yields of HCA are expected to be higher than for 88% of all competitors (a Dividend Yield rank of 88). ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 96, is a buy recommendation based on HCA's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since all value metrics are above the industry average, there is no objection to investing in HCA based on its detailed value metrics.
Growth Strategy: HCA Growth Momentum low
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 45 (better than 45% compared with alternatives), HCA shows a below-average growth dynamic in its industry. There is limited momentum in this company. The Growth Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators below average for HCA. Sales Growth has a below market rank of 35, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 65% of its competitors. The same is valid for Capital Growth, with a rank of 34, and Profit Growth, with a rank of 44. Currently, professionals expect the company to grow its profits less than 56% of its competitors). Only shareholders are optimistic. Stock Returns are above average at a rank of 91, which means that the stock returns have recently been above 91% of alternative investments. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 45, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. That picture may be the result for a company that has reached the bottom. All went south for HCA, and it still looks bad, but some investors already see light at the end of the tunnel, rewarding the stock with recent above-market stock returns. It could also mean that investors are correcting an overreaction to negative news. If that were the case, the positive stock returns are not yet a sign of recovery. Investors should look closely at the Value and Sentiment indicators before they make a stock purchasing decision, because growth is unlikely to be the driving argument behind this investment. ...read more
Safety Strategy: HCA Debt Financing Safety risky
| SAFETY METRICS | August 24, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 10 |
|
||||||
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 33 |
|
||||||
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 56 |
|
||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 18 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 18 (better than 18% compared with alternatives), the company HCA has much riskier financing practices than comparable other companies, which means that their overall debt burden is significantly above the industry average. This doesn't mean that the business of HCA is also risky, it only means that the company is on the riskier side in respect to bankruptcy in case things turn sour, assuming that public reporting is correct. The Safety Rank is based on consolidating three financing indicators, with just one indicator above average for HCA. Liquidity is at 56, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 56% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 33, which means that the portion of the debt that is about to be refinanced is above average. It has more debt in the refinancing stage than 67% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 10, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 90% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 18 (worse than 82% compared with alternatives), HCA has a financing structure that is significantly riskier than that of its competitors. High Leverage (a low Obermatt Leverage Rank) is good in good times, because it usually indicates that shareholders get higher returns. The good Liquidity performance of the company is an indicator that this is the case. However, if you expect an economic downturn, you may stay clear of this stock because they have an above-average debt level that needs refinancing soon. ...read more
Combined financial peformance: HCA Below-Average Financial Performance
| COMBINED PERFORMANCE | August 24, 2023 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 96 |
|
||||||
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 45 |
|
||||||
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 56 |
|
||||||
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 46 |
|
||||||
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 46 (worse than 54% compared with investment alternatives), HCA (Health Care Facilities, USA) shares have somewhat below-average financial characteristics compared with similar stocks. Shares of HCA are a good value (attractively priced) with a consolidated Value Rank of 96 (better than 96% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 45), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 18), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 46, is a hold recommendation based on HCA's financial characteristics. As the company HCA's key financial metrics exhibit good value (Obermatt Value Rank of 96) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 45) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 18), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 96% of comparable companies, may indicate the company's future is challenging. If you believe that low growth is temporary or just due to a specific current event, you may conclude that the good value of the stock provides an attractive investment opportunity. ...read more
Obermatt Portfolio Performance
We’re so convinced about our research, that we buy our stock tips.
See the performance of the Obermatt portfolio.