#5 - HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA)
No matter what party wins the election, healthcare will remain a hot button topic for the country. And as a company that is a for-profit operate of healthcare facilities, HCA Healthcare (NYSE:HCA) is a solid agnostic choice.
To be fair, HCA stock is down over 10% for the year. However, the stock was hit disproportionately hard in the March selloff, dropping over 50%. From that low, the stock is up nearly 100%, and nearly 40% in the last month alone. The company benefits from having patients receiving care in hospital settings. That was obviously not taking place for much of the spring.
And while there has been some improvement, volume is not likely to return to anything approaching normal until the pandemic ends. But when it does, the company should benefit from patients who will be scheduling outpatient procedures that they’ve been putting off.
Bears will point out that the company’s positive earnings report in July was impacted by stimulus money. But HCA has been a solid long-term stock. Over the past five years, HCA has seen its revenue grow by 7% compounded annually. Core earnings growth has been even better at an 11% compound annual growth rate (CAGR). And going back to 2007, the company has posted a CAGR in core earnings of 16%.
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.
More about HCA Healthcare- Current Price
- $334.38
- Consensus Rating
- Moderate Buy
- Ratings Breakdown
- 12 Buy Ratings, 6 Hold Ratings, 1 Sell Ratings.
- Consensus Price Target
- $381.67 (14.1% Upside)
