8 Best Inexpensive Stocks to Buy Right Now

4. HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:HCA)

Forward P/E Ratio as of June 10: 14.86

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 74

HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is one of the 8 Best Inexpensive Stocks to Buy Right Now. On June 9, Morgan Stanley analyst Craig Hettenbach increased the price target for HCA Healthcare to $410 from $355, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the shares. Hettenbach attributes HCA’s consistently strong margins to its scale and effective operating initiatives.

In Q1 2025, HCA Healthcare experienced broad-based volume growth, with inpatient admissions up 2.6% year-over-year, equivalent admissions increasing by 2.8%, and emergency room visits rising by 4%. Same facility revenue grew by ~6% year-over-year, with revenue per equivalent admission increasing by ~3%. The company also reported diluted EPS of $6.45, which was up over 20% year-over-year.

HCA Healthcare expanded its network in the quarter and increased its facilities/sites of care by 3.3% to ~2,750, and its inpatient bed capacity by about 2%. Inpatient occupancy in Q1 was 77%, which was higher than 75% last year. HCA Healthcare also spent $227 million on acquisitions, which included Catholic Medical Center and Lehigh Medical Center. The company received $161 million from asset sales, primarily from the sale of Regional Medical Center of San Jose.

HCA Healthcare Inc. (NYSE:HCA) owns and operates hospitals and related healthcare entities in the US. It operates general and acute care hospitals that offer medical and surgical services, such as inpatient care and outpatient services.