HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is a prominent player in the healthcare sector, providing a wide range of medical services across the United States. As a leading healthcare provider, HCA operates numerous hospitals and outpatient facilities. The company is set to release its third-quarter 2025 earnings on October 24, with Wall Street estimating an earnings per share (EPS) of $5.65 and revenue of approximately $18.56 billion.
Analysts have slightly different expectations, projecting adjusted earnings of $5.72 per share and sales reaching $18.57 billion. Guggenheim Partners anticipates HCA's EBITDA to meet or slightly exceed estimates, driven by a 2-3% increase in patient volumes. This growth is supported by stable trends observed through channel checks, despite a modest slowdown in August.
A favorable payor mix is expected to benefit HCA, as lower-reimbursing payors remain subdued. Contributions from SDP/DPP, including potential recognition of Texas CHIRP funds approved by CMS in September, could boost annualized EBITDA by $150-$175 million. Analyst Jason Cassorla suggests that HCA's 2025 guidance is likely to remain unchanged, focusing on the high and low ends of the current range.
HCA's financial metrics provide insights into its market valuation and cash flow efficiency. The company has a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of approximately 17.84 and a price-to-sales ratio of about 1.42. Its enterprise value to sales ratio is around 2.04, while the enterprise value to operating cash flow ratio is approximately 12.44. These figures reflect HCA's valuation and operational performance.
Despite challenges such as rising costs and a decrease in outpatient surgeries, HCA's earnings estimate has remained stable over the past 60 days. The company's earnings yield is about 5.61%, offering a perspective on its earnings relative to its share price. HCA's debt-to-equity ratio is approximately -10.55, indicating a significant level of debt compared to its equity, while its current ratio of around 0.98 suggests its ability to cover short-term liabilities with short-term assets.
