Debt-to-Equity Ratio

HCA's current Debt-to-Equity (D/E) ratio of -7.62x means the company has more total liabilities than total assets, resulting in negative shareholders' equity — a situation that indicates extreme leverage or accumulated losses.

Compared to sector peers, the sector median D/E is 0.73x, and HCA sits at the 3rd percentile, meaning only 3% of peers have a lower (more negative) ratio, highlighting its outlier risk profile. The year-over-year change is not available, but quarter-over-quarter the ratio improved by +3.7%, moving from -7.91x to -7.62x — a less negative position. While the -7.62x level signals high financial risk, the quarterly trend toward a less negative ratio suggests a slight reduction in net debt relative to equity. This combination of an extreme negative level with a mild improvement offers no clear opportunity for aggressive investors and implies caution for income-oriented ones. This metric supports the overall NEUTRAL verdict: the negative D/E indicates substantial risk, but the incremental quarterly improvement prevents a fully bearish stance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Closest Sector Peers