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Verdict
Quantitative factor alignment verified for current market regime.
Quant Score
Rank
#280
Positioning
Market Dominance
Services
Healthcare
$99.7B
Samuel N. Hazen
HCA Healthcare, Inc. provides health care services company in the United States. As of December 31, 2021, it operated 182 hospitals, including 175 general and acute care hospitals, five psychiatric hospitals, and two rehabilitation hospitals. The company operates inpatient care, intensive care, cardiac care, diagnostic, and emergency services.
Headcount
294.0K
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Dates updated upon official exchange announcement.
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X-AXIS: EV/EBITDA (LOWER = CHEAPER) | Y-AXIS: ROE (HIGHER = ELITE) | RED CIRCLE = HCA ANALYSIS TARGET
| Stock | Rating | Score▼ | Quality | Value | Momentum | P/E | EV/EBITDA | ROE | ROA | Gross Mgn | Op Mgn | Net Mgn | Rev Growth | Div Yield | D/E | Mkt Cap | AUDIT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
$YALA Yalla Group Ltd | 75 | 89 | 99 | 80 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$GRVY GRAVITY Co., Ltd. | 75 | 82 | 96 | 71 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$ISSC INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS & SUPPORT INC | 73 | 81 | 88 | 94 | 25.0x | 14.1x | 17.1% | 10.3% | 35.5% | 14.6% | 10.1% | 105.2% | 0.0% | 41.0x | $244M | VS | |
$AER AerCap Holdings N.V. | 72 | 60 | 87 | 84 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$HCSG HEALTHCARE SERVICES GROUP INC | 72 | 74 | 88 | 88 | 7.1x | 6.1x | 28.9% | 20.8% | 20.8% | 9.9% | 9.3% | 8.5% | 0.0% | 1.0x | $1.2B | VS | |
$LQDT LIQUIDITY SERVICES INC | 72 | 90 | 88 | 68 | 24.9x | 14.3x | 14.1% | 8.3% | 45.7% | 8.5% | 6.2% | 28.1% | 0.0% | 0.0x | $736M | VS | |
$TRTNpA Triton International Ltd | 71 | 70 | 89 | 70 | - | 1.7x | 0.0% | - | 97.4% | 58.0% | 37.4% | - | 8.8% | 264.0x | $2.5B | VS | |
$EDU New Oriental Education & Technology Group Inc. | 71 | 83 | 52 | 77 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$NTES NetEase, Inc. | 71 | 88 | 93 | 68 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $0 | VS | |
$UTI UNIVERSAL TECHNICAL INSTITUTE INC | 70 | 86 | 86 | 72 | 43.2x | 16.0x | 15.3% | 5.8% | 100.0% | 6.9% | 5.2% | 15.1% | 0.0% | 24.0x | $1.8B | VS | |
$HCA HCA Healthcare, Inc. | 65 | 54 | 74 | 85 | 16.8x | 15.4x | -1256.0% | 11.9% | 56.3% | 13.0% | 9.6% | 9.5% | 0.7% | - | $99.7B | ||
| SECTOR BENCH | - | - | - | - | - | 23.7x | 11.7x | 5.7% | 2.4% | 64.6% | 4.5% | 2.8% | 8.6% | 0.0% | 0.3x | - | REF |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) receives a "Buy" rating with a composite score of 65.2/100. It ranks #280 out of 7,333 stocks in our coverage universe and carries a 4-star rating. Ratings are driven by a 6-factor quantitative model measuring quality, value, momentum, investment, stability, and short interest.
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HQ Base
NASHVILLE, Tennessee
Outperforming peers — winners tend to keep winning over 3-12 months
Trading at a discount to fundamentals — favorable entry valuation
Average quality profile
Low volatility — smoother ride and historically better risk-adjusted returns
Moderate investment profile
Top-rated overall — multiple factors aligned for strong entry
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Relative valuation derived from Services sector benchmarks. Model weights: EV/EBITDA (40%), P/B (35%), P/S (25%). Re-calculated daily.
Projection based on user-defined inputs. Re-calculated daily against current market data.
Reverse DCF Framework — Mauboussin Methodology
Institutional-grade Reverse DCF analysis. This model identifies the growth hurdles embedded in current market prices. When implied growth is significantly lower than historical or projected rates, a margin of safety may exist. Re-audited daily.
No analyst ratings for HCA.
View All Ratings| Factor | Global | Sector | Tilt |
|---|---|---|---|
| PROFITABILITY | 54 | 65 | -11DRAG |
| MOMENTUM | 85 | 94 | -9DRAG |
| VALUATION | 74 | 84 | -10DRAG |
| INVESTMENT | 41 | 70 | -29DRAG |
| STABILITY | 92 | 98 | -6DRAG |
| SHORT INT | 48 | 47 | +1NEUTRAL |
Global = full universe. Sector = relative to industry peers. Positive tilt indicates idiosyncratic strength.
ROIC 4.2% vs WACC 7.4% (spread -3.2%)
GM 56% vs sector 65%, OM 13% vs sector 5%
Capital turnover 0.46x
Rev growth 10%, 10yr history
Interest coverage 4.3x, Net debt/EBITDA 17.2x
Composite assessment of profitability, capital efficiency, and financial strength. Top-tier entities demonstrate sustainable cash flow generation and elite competitive moats.
Profit generated per dollar of shareholder equity
Efficiency of asset utilization
Pricing power and cost efficiency
Core business profitability
Bottom-line profitability
The Quality factor evaluates the persistence and magnitude of realized cash flows. Companies with scores >70 exhibit superior pricing power and structural financial resilience through diverse economic regimes.
Our uncertainty rating tracks the predictability of future cash flows and potential for permanent capital loss. Moderate visibility with standard industry cyclicality.
We rate HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) as a Buy with a composite score of 65.2/100 at a current price of $526.34. The stock scores above average across the majority of our quantitative factors and ranks #280, reflecting a favorable risk-reward profile.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. holds a mid-tier position (#33 of 50) within the Services sector, based on our composite quantitative scoring across quality, value, momentum, and stability factors. The composite score of 65.2/100 places it at rank #280 in our full universe.
The near-term outlook is constructive, with revenue growing at 10% and momentum in the 85th percentile confirming positive market sentiment. The combination of strong top-line growth and favorable price dynamics suggests the company is executing well on its growth strategy.
No Moat
Low
Poor
Undervalued
Gross margins of 56% signal strong pricing power.
Value factor score of 74 suggests attractive pricing.
Positive momentum indicates institutional accumulation.
Vulnerability to macroeconomic shocks and interest rate volatility.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. represents a buy based on multi-factor quantitative performance.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. receives a Buy rating with a composite score of 65.2/100 and 4 out of 5 stars, ranking #280 of 7,333 stocks in our universe. HCA displays a favorable combination of factors that positions it above the majority of the market. While not without risk, the quantitative profile supports a constructive outlook.
With a quality score of 54/100, HCA shows adequate but unremarkable business quality. The company reports a return on equity of -1256.0% (sector avg: 5.7%), gross margins of 56.3% (sector avg: 64.6%), net margins of 9.6% (sector avg: 2.8%). This suggests the company generates acceptable returns but may lack the competitive positioning or operational efficiency to stand out from peers.
HCA carries a solid value score of 74/100, pointing to an attractively priced stock relative to peers. Key valuation metrics include a P/E ratio of 16.76x, an EV/EBITDA of 15.41x. This score suggests reasonable compensation for the risks involved, with potential upside if the market recognizes the stock's underlying worth.
With an investment score of 41/100, HCA exhibits moderate growth-oriented spending. Key growth metrics include revenue growth of 9.5% vs. a sector average of 8.6% and a return on assets of 11.9% (sector: 2.4%). The company appears to be balancing growth investments with capital returns, though the pace of investment may not be enough to accelerate top-line growth meaningfully.
HCA shows strong momentum characteristics with a score of 85/100. The stock has been trending above key moving averages, indicating solid demand from institutional buyers. Revenue growth stands at 9.5% year-over-year, while a beta of 0.26 reflects its sensitivity to broader market moves. This level of momentum typically signals sustained investor confidence and favorable near-term price action.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. earns an excellent stability score of 92/100, reflecting low price volatility and a conservatively managed balance sheet. Key stability metrics include a beta of 0.26. Stocks with this level of stability tend to act as portfolio anchors, providing downside protection during market corrections while still participating in broad market advances.
The short interest score of 48/100 for HCA suggests somewhat elevated bearish positioning by institutional traders. With a $99.7B market cap (large-cap), HCA Healthcare, Inc. may experience above-average volatility. Investors should consider whether the short thesis has merit or if it creates a potential short-squeeze opportunity.
HCA offers a modest dividend yield of 0.7%. While the income contribution is relatively small, even a small dividend signals management's commitment to shareholder returns and can serve as a signal of financial discipline.
HCA Healthcare, Inc. is a large-cap company in the Services sector, ranked #33 of 50 in its sector (34th percentile) and #280 of 7,333 overall (96th percentile). Key comparisons include ROE of -1256.0% trailing the 5.7% sector median and operating margins of 13.0% above the 4.5% sector average. This below-median ranking suggests HCA faces competitive challenges relative to stronger Services peers.
Quant Factor Profile
Key factor gap
Stability (92) vs Investment (41) — closing this gap could shift the rating.
RANK #33 OF 50 IN CONSUMER DISCRETIONARY
EV/EBITDA 31% ABOVE SECTOR MEDIAN
ROE 21981% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Gross Margin 13% BELOW SECTOR MEDIAN
Above 50MA
37.18%
Net New Highs
+51081
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