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HCA vs UHS
Which Stock Would AI Choose? HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. Universal Health Services (UHS) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- HCA reported Q1 2026 revenue growth of 4.3% year-over-year (YoY) to $19.11 billion but saw its stock decline sharply due to weaker patient volumes and rising expenses.
- UHS has delivered stronger year-to-date (YTD) performance at nearly 20%, outpacing HCA's 7% gain amid recent market activity.
- UHS trades at a lower trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of around 7.8 compared to HCA's 16.7, suggesting relative value.
- Both companies show robust recent quarterly earnings per share (EPS) growth, with UHS at 34% and HCA at 31% YoY.
- UHS benefits from behavioral health diversification, while HCA leads in scale with a larger market capitalization.
Introduction
HCA Healthcare and Universal Health Services (UHS) are prominent players in the U.S. healthcare providers and services sector, operating networks of hospitals and facilities. This stock comparison analyzes their business models, recent performance, and market positioning in the current environment of fluctuating patient volumes and cost pressures. Investors seeking exposure to hospital operators, particularly those balancing growth potential against operational risks, will find insights into relative performance, valuation, and momentum. With healthcare demand steady amid economic shifts, understanding contrasts in scale, diversification, and trends helps inform portfolio decisions in this resilient yet challenged sector.
HCA Overview and Recent Performance
HCA Healthcare operates approximately 186 hospitals and over 2,400 care sites across 20 states, focusing on acute care services. In recent quarters, the company has navigated softer patient admissions, particularly a significant drop in respiratory-related visits, alongside elevated labor and supply costs. Its latest quarterly results showed revenue up 4.3% YoY to $19.11 billion and adjusted EPS of $7.15, reflecting resilience but prompting a sharp stock pullback in recent trading sessions due to volume concerns. YTD gains stand at about 7%, with a trailing P/E of 16.7 and market cap exceeding $100 billion, underscoring its dominant scale. Sentiment reflects caution over near-term demand but optimism from analysts' average price target implying upside.
UHS Overview and Recent Performance
Universal Health Services (UHS) manages around 360 facilities, including acute care hospitals and behavioral health centers, providing diversification beyond traditional inpatient services. Recent market activity highlights stronger momentum, with YTD returns near 20% driven by solid revenue growth of 9.1% in the prior quarter and EPS expansion of 34% YoY. The stock has faced some pressure from operational challenges like staffing at select facilities, yet trades at a compelling trailing P/E of 7.8 with a $11 billion market cap. Anticipation builds for upcoming quarterly results, with analysts projecting continued growth amid sector headwinds. Performance reflects relative outperformance versus peers in recent weeks.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
Both HCA and UHS operate in healthcare services but differ in scale and focus: HCA's vast acute care network drives higher absolute growth, while UHS's behavioral health segment offers diversification against inpatient volatility. Recent momentum favors UHS with superior YTD returns and faster quarterly revenue expansion (9% vs. 7%), though HCA boasts greater stability via size. Valuation trade-offs highlight UHS's cheaper multiples (P/E 7.8 vs. 16.7), balanced by HCA's superior profitability margins. Risks include rising labor costs and reimbursement pressures for both, with UHS exposed to facility-specific issues. Market sentiment leans positive on UHS ahead of earnings, while HCA digests volume softness.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron's AI currently favors UHS over HCA, based on stronger trend consistency, YTD momentum, attractive valuation, and higher recent growth rates. While HCA offers scale advantages, UHS's relative positioning suggests higher probability of near-term outperformance amid sector dynamics.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
To compare these two companies we present long-term analysis, their fundamental ratings and make comparative short-term technical analysis which are presented below. The conclusion is HCA is a Buy and UHS is a Hold.
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
HCA’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whileUHS’s FA Score has 1 green FA rating(s).
- HCA’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- UHS’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
HCA’s TA Score shows that 5 TA indicator(s) are bullish while UHS’s TA Score has 6 bullish TA indicator(s).
- HCA’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 4 bearish.
- UHS’s TA Score: 6 bullish, 2 bearish.
Price Growth
HCA (@Hospital/Nursing Management) experienced а +7.93% price change this week, while UHS (@Hospital/Nursing Management) price change was +2.17% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Hospital/Nursing Management industry was +4.09%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +5.12%, and the average quarterly price growth was +26.68%.
Reported Earning Dates
HCA is expected to report earnings on Jul 23, 2026.
UHS is expected to report earnings on Jul 27, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Hospital/Nursing Management (+4.09% weekly)Hospital/Nursing Management companies own and operate health care facilities. Their operations include nursing homes, acute care facilities, retirement centers and outpatient surgery centers. HCA Healthcare Inc., Alcon Inc. and Universal Health Services, Inc. are some major companies in this industry. Technology has been at the forefront of development of advanced solutions, including quicker diagnoses of complex conditions. Investments in new diagnostics, healthcare IoT, and other healthcare technologies continue to gather momentum in this industry.
| HCA | UHS | HCA / UHS | |
| Capitalization | 86.5B | 8.84B | 979% |
| EBITDA | 15.7B | 2.8B | 562% |
| Gain YTD | -16.345 | -32.890 | 50% |
| P/E Ratio | 13.43 | 6.09 | 220% |
| Revenue | 76.4B | 17.8B | 429% |
| Total Cash | 940M | N/A | - |
| Total Debt | 49.8B | 5.13B | 972% |
HCA | UHS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 52 | 2 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 9 Undervalued | 11 Undervalued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 46 | 100 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 44 | 44 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 63 | 65 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 72 | 87 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
HCA's Valuation (9) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as UHS (11). This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to UHS’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's Profit vs Risk Rating (46) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is somewhat better than the same rating for UHS (100). This means that HCA’s stock grew somewhat faster than UHS’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's SMR Rating (44) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as UHS (44). This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to UHS’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's Price Growth Rating (63) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as UHS (65). This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to UHS’s over the last 12 months.
HCA's P/E Growth Rating (72) in the Hospital Or Nursing Management industry is in the same range as UHS (87). This means that HCA’s stock grew similarly to UHS’s over the last 12 months.
| HCA | UHS | |
|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 66% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 45% | 2 days ago 67% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 65% | 2 days ago 64% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 73% | 2 days ago 67% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 67% | 2 days ago 65% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 59% | 2 days ago 72% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 69% | 5 days ago 70% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 13 days ago 62% | 15 days ago 68% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 71% | 2 days ago 60% |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 2 days ago 61% | 2 days ago 73% |
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HCA and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, HCA has been closely correlated with UHS. These tickers have moved in lockstep 68% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is a high statistical probability that if HCA jumps, then UHS could also see price increases.
UHS and
Correlation & Price change
A.I.dvisor indicates that over the last year, UHS has been loosely correlated with HCA. These tickers have moved in lockstep 63% of the time. This A.I.-generated data suggests there is some statistical probability that if UHS jumps, then HCA could also see price increases.
| Ticker / NAME | Correlation To UHS | 1D Price Change % | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UHS | 100% | -0.31% | ||
| HCA - UHS | 63% Loosely correlated | +0.72% | ||
| THC - UHS | 56% Loosely correlated | +2.55% | ||
| PNTG - UHS | 40% Loosely correlated | +0.58% | ||
| ENSG - UHS | 39% Loosely correlated | +0.89% | ||
| CON - UHS | 35% Loosely correlated | +0.07% | ||
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