Alliancebernstein L.P. Sells 98,026 Shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Alliancebernstein L.P. cut its stake in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) by 10.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 873,498 shares of the company's stock after selling 98,026 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. owned approximately 0.34% of HCA Healthcare worth $262,180,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Tidemark LLC bought a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare in the 4th quarter worth about $36,000. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in HCA Healthcare in the third quarter worth about $39,000. Activest Wealth Management raised its stake in HCA Healthcare by 1,250.0% during the fourth quarter. Activest Wealth Management now owns 135 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. increased its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 50.0% in the 4th quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 150 shares of the company's stock valued at $45,000 after acquiring an additional 50 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.73% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at HCA Healthcare

In other news, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 9,533 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $322.59, for a total transaction of $3,075,250.47. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 15,412 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,971,757.08. This trade represents a 38.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

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HCA Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of HCA stock traded up $1.75 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $347.48. The stock had a trading volume of 1,249,318 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,349,682. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $326.35 and its 200 day simple moving average is $340.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.08 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07. The firm has a market cap of $85.55 billion, a PE ratio of 15.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.68. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a one year low of $289.98 and a one year high of $417.14.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 24th. The company reported $6.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $6.03 by $0.19. HCA Healthcare had a net margin of 8.16% and a return on equity of 586.47%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $5.90 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 EPS for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 17th were paid a dividend of $0.72 per share. This is a positive change from HCA Healthcare's previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 17th. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio is currently 13.11%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on HCA shares. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $380.00 to $370.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and set a $380.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Tuesday, December 17th. KeyCorp decreased their target price on HCA Healthcare from $420.00 to $370.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of HCA Healthcare from $406.00 to $355.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an "overweight" rating and set a $405.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Monday, January 27th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $385.67.

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.