HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) Short Interest Up 18.9% in November

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of November. As of November 30th, there was short interest totalling 3,530,000 shares, an increase of 18.9% from the November 15th total of 2,970,000 shares. Approximately 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 1,390,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.5 days.

HCA Healthcare Stock Up 0.8 %

NYSE:HCA traded up $2.59 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $313.93. The company had a trading volume of 1,324,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,204,023. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $355.34 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $358.52. The firm has a market cap of $79.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.10, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.63. HCA Healthcare has a twelve month low of $263.22 and a twelve month high of $417.14.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be given a dividend of $0.66 per share. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.84%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. HCA Healthcare’s payout ratio is 11.85%.

Insider Buying and Selling at HCA Healthcare

In other HCA Healthcare news, insider Erol R. Akdamar sold 2,900 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, November 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $353.00, for a total transaction of $1,023,700.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 6,843 shares in the company, valued at $2,415,579. This trade represents a 29.76 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Phillip G. Billington sold 3,897 shares of the stock in a transaction 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 approximately $18,445,700. This trade represents a 6.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 1.60% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of HCA Healthcare

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of HCA. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in HCA Healthcare during the second quarter worth $27,000. Unique Wealth Strategies LLC bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the second quarter valued at about $28,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Institutional investors own 62.73% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded HCA Healthcare from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $390.00 to $400.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, October 28th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of HCA Healthcare from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and cut their target price for the company from $400.00 to $320.00 in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Truist Financial increased their target price on HCA Healthcare from $390.00 to $430.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Monday, August 19th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $392.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, October 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, twelve have given a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, HCA Healthcare currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $387.13.

HCA Healthcare Company 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.