HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Stock Holdings Decreased by Argent Capital Management LLC

Argent Capital Management LLC trimmed its holdings in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) by 3.0% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 153,751 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,761 shares during the period. HCA Healthcare accounts for approximately 1.3% of Argent Capital Management LLC’s holdings, making the stock its 29th largest position. Argent Capital Management LLC’s holdings in HCA Healthcare were worth $46,148,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in HCA. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 2nd quarter worth about $33,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Canoe Financial LP acquired a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Finally, Northwest Investment Counselors LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the third quarter valued at $44,000. 62.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on HCA shares. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on HCA Healthcare from $406.00 to $355.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. StockNews.com cut HCA Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, November 4th. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $400.00 to $320.00 in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Raymond James lowered shares of HCA Healthcare from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $430.00 to $390.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, twelve have issued a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $385.27.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 0.2 %

HCA Healthcare stock opened at $306.34 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.00. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 12 month low of $276.50 and a 12 month high of $417.14. The stock has a market capitalization of $77.60 billion, a PE ratio of 13.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 1.64. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $319.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $353.44.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th were paid a $0.66 dividend. This represents a $2.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.86%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 13th. HCA Healthcare’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 11.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Phillip G. Billington sold 3,897 shares of HCA Healthcare stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $350.00, for a total value of $1,363,950.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 52,702 shares in the company, valued at $18,445,700. The trade was a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, insider Erol R. Akdamar sold 2,900 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.00, for a total value of $1,023,700.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 6,843 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,415,579. The trade was a 29.76 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.70% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

HCA Healthcare Profile

HCA Healthcare, Inc, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the United States. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offers medical and surgical services, including inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services; and outpatient services, such as outpatient surgery, laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy, cardiology, and physical therapy.