Should I buy HCA Healthcare (HCA) stock or is it too late?
⭐ The most reliable of them, either direction: BMO Capital — 73% of its targets hit on this sector (240 calls tested). It aims for $495 (+7.4 %), call made on September 24, 2026, maturing on September 24, 2027 (20 d ago).
Firm-by-firm track record on HCA Healthcare
| Firm | % right | Gain vs sector | Calls | Aims for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Morgan | 100 % | +33.1 % | 9 | $425 -8% |
| Mizuho | 89 % | +30.3 % | 19 | $475 +3% |
| Baird | 80 % | +29.8 % | 5 | $393 -15% |
| Truist Securities | 86 % | +28.1 % | 14 | $495 +7% |
| Jefferies | 75 % | +28.0 % | 8 | $590 +28% |
| UBS | 64 % | +23.3 % | 11 | $579 +26% |
| Stephens & Co. | 89 % | +22.7 % | 9 | $530 +15% |
| Argus Research | 80 % | +22.5 % | 5 | $560 +22% |
✅ Reasons to believe
- 67% of analysts rate it a buy (Buy consensus, 18 ratings) — a sign of market conviction.
- 6 analysts rated reliable (≥55% hit rate, beat their sector) are bullish on the stock.
- Reasonable valuation (P/E ~15) relative to its sector.
⚠️ Reasons to hesitate
- Even the most reliable firm on HCA, JP Morgan (100% hit rate, 9 scored calls), only targets $425 (call made on August 20, 2026, maturing on August 20, 2027) (-8%) in its most recent call, and $535 (call made on February 20, 2026, maturing on February 20, 2027) (+16%) in the one coming due soonest. The stock may already have run past its target.
- The consensus is not unanimous: of 18 ratings, 5 are neutral and 1 is a sell.
- Limited upside: the median target is only +4% from the current price.
- A 12-month target is not a guaranteed path: the price can fall in the meantime.
The analyst consensus on HCA
Median target $480 (+4%) · 18 ratings · Buy consensus
⚠️ Information, not investment advice. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Analyst targets on a ~12-month horizon.
Frequently asked questions
Should you invest in HCA Healthcare now?
We won't decide for you. The facts: 67% of analysts rate it a buy, median target $480 (+4%), and JP Morgan (most reliable on HCA, 100%) targets $425. Weigh that against valuation (P/E ~15). This is not personalized advice.
Is it too late to invest in HCA Healthcare?
Not according to analysts: the median target ($480) is still +4% above the current price ($461) (most reliable on HCA: JP Morgan, 100%). The real question isn't "too late" but the price-to-value gap and risk. Not advice.
Is HCA Healthcare still worth investing in?
It depends on the gap between the price ($461) and its estimated value: analysts target $480 on median (+4%), with 67% buys (most reliable on HCA: JP Morgan, 100%). Cross-check with their real reliability on HCA and the cautions above. Information, not advice.
What's the main risk in buying HCA?
Even the most reliable firm on HCA, JP Morgan (100% hit rate, 9 scored calls), only targets $425 (call made on August 20, 2026, maturing on August 20, 2027) (-8%) in its most recent call, and $535 (call made on February 20, 2026, maturing on February 20, 2027) (+16%) in the one coming due soonest. The stock may already have run past its target.
→ Go deeper: the full HCA Healthcare profile (consensus, analyst reliability, price target, performance).