Fact based stock research
HCA (NYSE:HCA)
US40412C1018
How to read the free 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.
HCA stock research in summary
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 43 (worse than 57% 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 93 (better than 93% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 41), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 20), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 43, 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 93) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 41) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 20), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 93% 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. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
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360° Viewnew| Country | USA |
| Industry | Health Care Facilities |
| Index | Dividends USA, D.J. US Health Care, S&P 500 |
| Size class | XX-Large |
This stock has achievements: Top 10 Stock.
31-Jul-2025. Stock data may be delayed. Log in or sign up to get the most recent research.
Analysts rarely agree on a stock’s future. So, who do you believe? Obermatt translates those collective views into a single Sentiment Rank. That plus the financial ranks give you the ultimate 360° View. Sign up to access them.
It’s easier said than done. When your stock drops, it’s easy to want to sell it and find a better performer. Think twice, or even three times, before trading. Those fees (especially the hidden ones) can eat up your gains.
Review the performance ranks of the individual metrics that form each investment strategy.
Research History: HCA
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 96 |
|
96 |
|
96 |
|
93 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 57 |
|
37 |
|
39 |
|
41 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 55 |
|
15 |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
| SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| SENTIMENT | 13 |
|
86 |
|
82 |
|
new |
|
| 360° VIEW | ||||||||
| 360° VIEW | 65 |
|
79 |
|
70 |
|
new |
|
Combined financial peformance in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Combined Rank of 43 (worse than 57% 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 93 (better than 93% of alternatives) but show below-average growth (Growth Rank of 41), and are riskily financed (Safety Rank of 20), which means above-average debt burdens. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: A Combined Rank of 43, 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 93) but low growth (Obermatt Growth Rank of 41) and risky financing practices (Obermatt Safety Rank of 20), it may be a risky investment, because debt in times of crises can make things worse. The good value, better than 93% 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. Obermatt Premium subscribers can further check the stock’s Sentiment Ranks, which also flow into the Obermatt 360° View for investors. ...read more
| RESEARCH HISTORY | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VALUE | ||||||||
| VALUE | 96 |
|
96 |
|
96 |
|
93 |
|
| GROWTH | ||||||||
| GROWTH | 57 |
|
37 |
|
39 |
|
41 |
|
| SAFETY | ||||||||
| SAFETY | 55 |
|
15 |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
| COMBINED | ||||||||
| COMBINED | 96 |
|
42 |
|
49 |
|
43 |
|
Value Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Value Rank of 93 (better than 93% compared with alternatives) for 2025, HCA shares are significantly less expensive than comparable stocks. The Value Rank is based on consolidating four value indicators, with three out of four indicators above average for HCA. Price-to-Profit (also referred to as price to earnings, P/E ratio) is 71 which means that the stock price compared with what market professionals expect for future profits is lower than for 71% of comparable companies, indicating a good value concerning HCA's profit levels. The same is valid for the expected Price-to-Book Capital ratio (also referred to as market-to-book ratio) with a Price-to-Capital Rank of 95, and for Dividend Yield with a Dividend Yield Rank of 83. But, compared with other companies in the same industry, the stock price is higher than average as regards expected revenues; only 63% of all competitors have an even higher stock price as regards to sales revenues (a Price-to-Sales Rank of 37). Profits, the level of invested capital, and dividend policy suggest that this stock is attractively priced. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Value Rank of 93, is a buy recommendation based on HCA's stock price compared with the company's operational size and dividend yields. Since it is on the expensive side for Price-to-Sales, it may mean that HCA has pricing power in its distribution market because it can charge higher prices than its competitors. If this is the case, all four value indicators are positive signals for purchasing HCA shares. 9. We recommend further analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks, including the 360° View, before making an investment decision. ...read more
| VALUE METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. REVENUES (P/S) | 53 |
|
50 |
|
54 |
|
37 |
|
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. PROFITS (P/E) | 73 |
|
82 |
|
75 |
|
71 |
|
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | ||||||||
| PRICE VS. CAPITAL (Market-to-Book) | 100 |
|
100 |
|
95 |
|
95 |
|
| DIVIDEND YIELD | ||||||||
| DIVIDEND YIELD | 86 |
|
81 |
|
84 |
|
83 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: VALUE | 96 |
|
96 |
|
96 |
|
93 |
|
Growth Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Growth Rank of 41 (better than 41% 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 half of the indicators below and half above average for HCA. Profit Growth has a rank of 52, which means that currently professionals expect the company to grow its profits more than 52% of its competitors. This is a good sign for shareholders, which is confirmed by an above-average Stock Returns rank of 51 (above 51% of alternative investments). But Sales Growth has a below the median rank of 29, which means that, currently, professionals expect the company to grow less than 71% of its competitors, and Capital Growth also has a lower rank of 43. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: The overall picture with a consolidated Growth Rank of 41, is a hold recommendation for growth and momentum investors. Because revenues and invested capital are the more solid growth indicators, the positive development on the profit side is less relevant. It may have been caused by cost-cutting, which may be a negative growth indicator. Finally, the above-average stock returns recently are a thing of the past and not a good indicator of future returns. Investors should be confident that the cost-cutting initiative leading to higher profits is to benefit the company's future. If not, there is little growth momentum, and investment is only advisable if the Value Ranks suggest a good investment timing for HCA. While momentum is a popular investment factor, the value aspect might be the more important one, in the longer term. We recommend analyzing the stock with Obermatt’s Value, Safety, and Sentiment Ranks to arrive at a 360° View of the stock purchase case, especially since the growth performance is mixed here. ...read more
| GROWTH METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| REVENUE GROWTH | ||||||||
| REVENUE GROWTH | 24 |
|
34 |
|
34 |
|
29 |
|
| PROFIT GROWTH | ||||||||
| PROFIT GROWTH | 70 |
|
45 |
|
42 |
|
52 |
|
| CAPITAL GROWTH | ||||||||
| CAPITAL GROWTH | 29 |
|
46 |
|
61 |
|
43 |
|
| STOCK RETURNS | ||||||||
| STOCK RETURNS | 91 |
|
55 |
|
39 |
|
51 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: GROWTH | 57 |
|
37 |
|
39 |
|
41 |
|
Safety Metrics in Detail
ANALYSIS: With an Obermatt Safety Rank of 20 (better than 20% 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 57, meaning the company generates more profit to service its debt than 57% of its competitors. This indicates that the company is safer when it comes to debt service. But Refinancing is riskier at a rank of 20, 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 80% of its competitors. Leverage is also high at a rank of 12, which means that the company has an above-average debt-to-equity ratio. It has more debt than 88% of its competitors. ...read more
RECOMMENDATION: With a consolidated Safety Rank of 20 (worse than 80% 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. If the company is sailing with good winds, as may be visible from the Growth and Sentiment performance, the refinancing risk may be lower than the low Refinancing rank suggests. ...read more
| SAFETY METRICS | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEVERAGE | ||||||||
| LEVERAGE | 4 |
|
10 |
|
9 |
|
12 |
|
| REFINANCING | ||||||||
| REFINANCING | 95 |
|
29 |
|
24 |
|
20 |
|
| LIQUIDITY | ||||||||
| LIQUIDITY | 57 |
|
56 |
|
51 |
|
57 |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SAFETY | 55 |
|
15 |
|
15 |
|
20 |
|
Sentiment Metrics in Detail
| SENTIMENT | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANALYST OPINIONS | ||||||||
| ANALYST OPINIONS | n/a |
|
69 |
|
54 |
|
new |
|
| OPINIONS CHANGE | ||||||||
| OPINIONS CHANGE | 50 |
|
47 |
|
90 |
|
new |
|
| PRO HOLDINGS | ||||||||
| PRO HOLDINGS | 29 |
|
90 |
|
96 |
|
new |
|
| MARKET PULSE | ||||||||
| MARKET PULSE | 14 |
|
55 |
|
49 |
|
new |
|
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | ||||||||
| CONSOLIDATED RANK: SENTIMENT | 13 |
|
86 |
|
82 |
|
new |
|
Free stock analysis by the purely fact based Obermatt Method for HCA from July 31, 2025.
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