Yahoo Finance Why HCA Healthcare (HCA) is a Top Momentum Stock for the Long-Term
Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors alike.
Many investors also have a go-to methodology that helps guide their buy and sell decisions. One way to find winning stocks based on your preferred way of investing is to use the Zacks Style Scores, which are indicators that rate stocks based on three widely-followed investing types: value, growth, and momentum.
Is This 1 Momentum Stock a Screaming Buy Right Now?
For momentum investors, upward or downward trends in a stock's price or earnings outlook take precedent, so they'll want to zero in on the Momentum Style Score. This Score can pinpoint good times to build a position in a stock, using factors like one-week price change and the monthly percentage change in earnings estimates.
HCA Healthcare (HCA)
HCA Healthcare is the largest non-governmental operator of acute care hospitals in the United States. Headquartered in Nashville, TN, it operates hospitals and related health care entities. At the end of 2023, the company operated 186 hospitals and approximately 2,400 ambulatory sites of care, including surgery centers, freestanding emergency rooms, urgent care centers and physician clinics, in 20 states and the United Kingdom.
HCA is a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock, with a Momentum Style Score of B and VGM Score of A. Shares are up 6.6% over the past one week and up 10.4% over the past four weeks. HCA has gained 23.9% in the last one-year period as well. Looking at trading volume, an average of 993,585.88 shares exchanged hands over the last 20 trading days.
A company's earnings performance is important for momentum investors as well. For fiscal 2024, eight analysts revised their earnings estimate higher in the last 60 days for HCA, while the Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.37 to $20.86 per share. HCA also boasts an average earnings surprise of 5.6%.
With strong earnings growth, a good Zacks Rank, and top-tier Momentum and VGM Style Scores, investors should think about adding HCA to their portfolios.
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HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) : Free Stock Analysis Report
