CWA Asset Management Group LLC Invests $2.87 Million in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

CWA Asset Management Group LLC purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 7,072 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,874,000.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in HCA. Terra Nova Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.3% during the third quarter. Terra Nova Asset Management LLC now owns 8,112 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,297,000 after purchasing an additional 26 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV raised its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 421 shares of the company's stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC raised its position in shares of HCA Healthcare by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Waldron Private Wealth LLC now owns 1,681 shares of the company's stock valued at $683,000 after buying an additional 29 shares in the last quarter. Brookstone Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of HCA Healthcare by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 4,065 shares of the company's stock worth $1,652,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. grew its stake in HCA Healthcare by 2.4% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,301 shares of the company's stock worth $529,000 after acquiring an additional 30 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.73% of the company's stock.

HCA Healthcare Price Performance

HCA Healthcare stock traded down $1.87 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $354.16. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,252,655 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,542,979. The firm has a market capitalization of $89.71 billion, a PE ratio of 15.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.34 and a beta of 1.68. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $226.48 and a fifty-two week high of $417.14. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $389.61 and its 200 day simple moving average is $356.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 48.71, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.12.

HCA Healthcare Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, December 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 13th will be issued a $0.66 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 13th. This represents a $2.64 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.75%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 11.85%.

Insider Activity at HCA Healthcare

In other news, EVP Michael S. Cuffe sold 8,358 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $385.42, for a total transaction of $3,221,340.36. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 29,678 shares in the company, valued at $11,438,494.76. This represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 1.60% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on HCA shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of HCA Healthcare from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Leerink Partners increased their price objective on HCA Healthcare from $367.00 to $396.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, July 24th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an "overweight" rating and set a $392.00 price target on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. KeyCorp lowered their price target on shares of HCA Healthcare from $475.00 to $420.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, October 28th. Finally, Wolfe Research raised shares of HCA Healthcare to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $379.17.

About HCA Healthcare

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.