With a market cap of $92.2 billion, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the United States. Through its subsidiaries, the company owns and operates a broad network of hospitals and healthcare facilities offering comprehensive inpatient, outpatient, and behavioral health services across the U.S. and in England.
The Nashville, Tennessee-based company is slated to announce its fiscal Q2 2025 earnings results on Tuesday, Jul. 22. Ahead of the event, analysts are expecting HCA to report an EPS of $6.14, an increase of 11.6% from $5.50 in the year-ago quarter. The company has surpassed Wall Street’s bottom-line estimates in the past four quarterly reports. In Q1 2025, HCA Healthcare exceeded the consensus EPS estimate by 11.8%.
For fiscal 2025, analysts expect the hospital operator to report EPS of $25.26, up over 15% from $21.96 in fiscal 2024.
Shares of HCA have returned 19.2% over the past 52 weeks, outpacing both the S&P 500 Index’s ($SPX) 13.6% rise and the Health Care Select Sector SPDR Fund’s (XLV) 7.5% decline over the same period.
HCA Healthcare reported Q1 2025 results on Apr. 25, with EPS rising nearly 9% to $6.45, exceeding Wall Street expectations. Revenue also beat forecasts, coming in at $18.3 billion, driven by a 2.6% increase in same-facility admissions and a 4% rise in emergency room visits, reflecting sustained demand for elective and urgent care procedures. Investor confidence was further boosted as HCA reiterated its annual profit forecast of $24.05 to $25.85 per share, despite concerns over tariffs and policy uncertainty. However, the stock fell nearly 4% following the report.
Analysts’ consensus rating on HCA Healthcare stock is cautiously optimistic, with a “Moderate Buy” rating overall. Among 25 analysts covering the stock, 15 recommend a “Strong Buy,” two have a “Moderate Buy” rating, and eight give a “Hold” rating. This configuration is slightly less bullish than three months ago, with 16 analysts suggesting a “Strong Buy.”
