Fisher Funds Management LTD Invests $21.48 Million in HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Fisher Funds Management LTD bought a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 71,729 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $21,480,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Legacy Investment Solutions LLC acquired a new position in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Activest Wealth Management increased its holdings in HCA Healthcare by 1,250.0% in 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. Canoe Financial LP purchased a new stake in shares of HCA Healthcare during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $41,000. Capital Performance Advisors LLP purchased a new position in HCA Healthcare in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. boosted its position in HCA Healthcare by 50.0% during the fourth quarter. Pinnacle Bancorp Inc. now owns 150 shares of the company's stock worth $45,000 after purchasing an additional 50 shares in the last quarter. 62.73% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Jennifer Berres sold 9,533 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $322.59, for a total value of $3,075,250.47. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 15,412 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,971,757.08. The trade was a 38.22 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.60% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

HCA Healthcare Trading Down 4.0 %

HCA stock traded down $13.42 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $319.65. 2,109,549 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,691,924. The firm has a market capitalization of $79.38 billion, a PE ratio of 14.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.10 and a beta of 1.64. HCA Healthcare, Inc. has a 52-week low of $289.98 and a 52-week high of $417.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 69.07, a current ratio of 1.08 and a quick ratio of 0.97. The business's 50 day moving average price is $314.24 and its 200-day moving average price is $350.33.

HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The company reported $6.22 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 period last year, the business earned $5.90 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that HCA Healthcare, Inc. will post 24.98 earnings per share for the current year.

HCA Healthcare Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 17th will be given a $0.72 dividend. This is an increase from HCA Healthcare's previous quarterly dividend of $0.66. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 17th. This represents a $2.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.90%. HCA Healthcare's dividend payout ratio is presently 13.11%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

HCA has been the topic of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut shares of HCA Healthcare from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and lowered their price objective for the company from $400.00 to $320.00 in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Raymond James downgraded HCA Healthcare from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Barclays dropped their price target on HCA Healthcare from $392.00 to $366.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Cantor Fitzgerald reaffirmed an "overweight" rating and set a $405.00 price objective on shares of HCA Healthcare in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. restated a "neutral" rating and issued a $380.00 target price on shares of HCA Healthcare in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $385.67.

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.