HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is one of the 7 Best Stocks to Buy According to Abdiel Capital Advisors. On July 25, Jamie Perse, an analyst from Goldman Sachs, maintained a “Hold” rating on the company’s stock, and the associated price target is $332.00. The analyst’s rating is based on the company’s recent financial performance, which showcased a mixed picture. HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) posted a stronger-than-expected EBITDA, exceeding the consensus estimates, thanks to the favorable pricing and mix and effective expense management in labor and other operational costs, added the firm’s analyst.
A team of healthcare professionals in lab coats and masks meeting at a hospital ward.
In Q2 2025, the company’s adjusted EBITDA rose 8.4% to $3.849 billion. Despite the positive aspects, the volume growth remained below expectations. Notably, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA)’s same facility admissions rose 1.8% and same facility equivalent admissions went up by 1.7%. Even though HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) increased its guidance for the year, the current volume trends raise concerns related to the sustainability of growth going forward, added Perse. For FY 2025, the company expects revenues in the range of $74.00 billion – $76.00 billion, an increase from the prior guidance of $72.80 billion – $75.80 billion.
L1 Capital, an investment management firm, released its Q2 2025 investor letter. Here is what the fund said:
“HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA) is the leading for-profit hospital operator and outpatient services provider in the U.S. In our December 2024 Quarterly Report we outlined our thoughts on why we considered the 25% fall in the share price due to healthcare policy concerns was excessive, and that the share price had fallen to a level where base case risk adjusted returns were compelling and downside risks were manageable, and that we had been using the share price weakness to increase our investment in this very high-quality business. Over the first half of 2025 healthcare policy has become clearer and is less negative for HCA than the market had feared. HCA’s share price has subsequently increased materially, and we have sold part of our investment, again to actively manage risk adjusted returns. HCA remains a top ten Fund holding at the end of the June 2025 quarter.”
While we acknowledge the potential of HCA to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than HCA and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 13 Cheap AI Stocks to Buy According to Analysts and 11 Unstoppable Growth Stocks to Invest in Now
Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Hedge Fund Resource Center