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HCA Healthcare, Inc.
$449.96▼ 3.29% today
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Why HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) stock moved

Updated Oct 28, 2026

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) shares fell 3.3% to $449.96 as of October 28, 2026, a moderate decline from the prior close of $465.26. BestStocks flagged the session as a major change for HCA. The move is tied to price move down. Below, we break down what changed for HCA, why it matters for investors, how the stock reacted, and the catalysts on the calendar.

What happened

HCA fell 3.3% to $449.96

HCA fell 3.3% in its latest session, moving from $465.26 to $449.96.

Material / EarningsLow confidence
Rel. volume
2.0×
Very High
Vs peers
—
No comparable peers
Market cap
$97.4B
New York Stock Exchange
Analyst target
$457
+1.5% vs price
Price chart
Sep 28 – Oct 28
EVNNNNNFE$423$447$471Sep 28Oct 6Oct 13Oct 21Oct 28
E earnings
F filing
A analyst
V/N other
click a marker to highlight
Change events — click to jump to details

What it means for HCA Healthcare, Inc. investors

For HCA Healthcare, Inc. investors, the recent signals add up to a bearish shift. On the constructive side: HCA Healthcare rallied 6.05% to $413.18 following upbeat second-quarter earnings reported on July 27, according to Benzinga; Positive price momentum. Weighing against that: Material negative event; Negative session, down 3.3%. Wall Street's consensus price target sits at $456.81, implying +1.5% upside from $449.96. BestStocks rates the overall signal quality low (58/100). With earnings roughly 90 days out, the next report is the most likely near-term test of the move.

HCA price reaction

HCA last traded at $449.96, down $15.30 (-3.29%) from the previous close of $465.26. The session traded on 2.0× average volume (very high), so the move carried above-average conviction. Over the past month the stock has ranged between $423.39 and $470.44, and it currently sits about 56% of the way up that band.

Bullish and bearish analyst opinions on HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA)

The consensus analyst price target on HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is $456.81, 1.5% above the recent $449.96. Over the past 90 days analysts logged 0 upgrades, 6 maintains, and 0 downgrades. Here is how the bullish and bearish cases on HCA line up.

The bullish case

  • Wall Street's consensus price target of $456.81 implies +1.5% upside from $449.96.
  • The Street's most bullish target is $579.00 (+28.7%).
  • HCA Healthcare rallied 6.05% to $413.18 following upbeat second-quarter earnings reported on July 27, according to Benzinga.
  • Positive price momentum.

The bearish case

  • The most bearish analyst target is $369.00 (-18.0%).
  • Material negative event.
  • Negative session, down 3.3%.
  • High volume 2.0x on decline — distribution signal.
Bull vs bear balanceBearish Shift
BearishNeutralBullish

Weighing both sides, BestStocks' composite read of recent signals is bearish, as the bull-versus-bear meter above shows. This is an educational summary of the bull and bear case, not investment advice.

Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus figures as of Oct 28, 2026; other aggregators may differ. High and low targets show the range of estimates, not forecasts.

Analyst expectations
Consensus target: $457+1.5%
= 6 maintains
TD Cowen maintained Buy · 2026-10-12
SEC filings watch
8-K2026-10-27
Material event — review for impact
high
8-K2026-07-29
Material event — review for impact
high
10-Q2026-07-28
Quarterly financial results
medium
8-K2026-07-24
Material event — review for impact
high
Peer context
HCA-3.3%

Previous notable changes for HCA

Valuation2026-10-27-3.3%via gurufocus.com ↗
HCA Healthcare reported Q3 2026 results beating analyst EPS estimates ($7.22 adjusted vs. consensus ~$6.65–$6.79), with revenue rising 3.6% to $19.85 billion, yet the stock fell 3.28% to $450.00 by mid-session. The decline reflects payer mix deterioration: HCA disclosed a ~$400 million pre-tax headwind from higher uninsured patient volumes as coverage losses pressured margins, and net income actually declined 3.9% year-over-year despite revenue growth, per The Wall Street Journal. Volume surged to 4.66x normal for this hour, signaling active selling despite the beat.
Filings2026-10-27-3.3%
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) filed a new 8-K on October 27, 2026. The filing content was not detailed in available sources.
Material / Earnings2026-10-27-3.3%
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) reported EPS of $7.22 vs. consensus estimate of $6.65, beating by 8.6% on 2026-10-27.
News2026-10-21-1.4%
HCA Healthcare hosts eighth annual prescription drug take-back day across facilities nationwide on October 24, 2026.

In-depth HCA event analyses

Permanent, dated analyses of HCA's most significant sessions.
Upcoming catalysts & outlook
Next earnings
2027-01-26 (est.)
in 90 days
Thesis shift
Bearish Shift
bearish signal
Risk level
Low
from change events

Frequently asked questions about HCA

Why did HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) stock move?

HCA fell 3.3% to $449.96. No single company-specific catalyst was confirmed during the move window, and it looks technical.

How much did HCA stock fall?

HCA lost 3.29% ($15.30) versus the prior close of $465.26, last trading at $449.96 on 2.0× average volume.

When is HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s next earnings date?

HCA's next earnings report is estimated for 2027-01-26 — about 90 days away.

What is the analyst price target for HCA?

The consensus analyst price target for HCA is $456.81, about 1.5% above the current $449.96. Over the past 90 days, analysts recorded 0 upgrades, 6 maintains, and 0 downgrades.

How BestStocks tracks HCA

This page is generated automatically by BestStocks' change-detection system after price move down was detected and verified against independent data sources. It draws on 20 tracked change events for HCA, cross-checked against the data sources listed below. Price, volume, and market-capitalization figures are the live intraday quote as of October 28, 2026 and refresh as new information is detected; for companies with multiple share classes, market-cap figures can differ by data source. Analyst price targets and ratings are FMP consensus. This is an educational summary of what changed and why — not personalized investment advice.

Data sources
FMP real-time & historical price dataSEC EDGAR filingsFMP earnings & estimatesCompany news feedsAnalyst ratings & price targets (FMP)Earnings calendar (FMP)
Educational research tool — not personalized investment advice. Data may be delayed.