HCA Debt-to-Equity Ratio Analysis
Updated 153h ago·SEC filings & market data
Key Takeaway
The Debt-to-Equity Ratio measures a company's total liabilities relative to its shareholders' equity; a negative value like -7.49x means HCA's liabilities exceed its assets, leaving shareholders' equity in deficit.
Sector Performance
2th percentileHCA
-7.49x
Sector Median
0.74x
Sector Avg
2.51x
Prior Period
-7.62x(Jul 2026)
Deep Analysis
The Debt-to-Equity Ratio measures a company's total liabilities relative to its shareholders' equity; a negative value like -7.49x means HCA's liabilities exceed its assets, leaving shareholders' equity in deficit.
Against sector peers, this is far below the median of 0.74x, placing HCA in the 3rd percentile. The year-over-year change is N/A, while the quarter-over-quarter change shows a +1.7% improvement as the ratio moved from -7.62x to -7.49x; the eight-quarter trend is N/A. The combination of a deeply negative level with only a slight quarterly improvement implies elevated financial risk, as negative equity can signal distress or heavy debt financing. The small QoQ move toward less negative territory offers limited offsetting momentum. This metric contradicts a bullish outlook but does not overturn the overall NEUTRAL verdict, as it supports caution without compelling an outright negative stance.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Debt-to-Equity Ratio tell investors about HCA?
Shows how much a company is financing its operations through debt vs shareholder funds. High D/E can amplify returns — and losses.
How is the Debt-to-Equity Ratio calculated?
Debt-to-Equity Ratio is calculated as: Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity.
Who are HCA's closest peers by Debt-to-Equity Ratio?
The closest peers by Debt-to-Equity Ratio include: TAP (0.76x), PCAR (0.72x), O (0.78x), PRU (0.78x), KIM (0.85x).
Learn More About Debt-to-Equity Ratio
How to Spot a Debt Problem Before It Hits the Stock Price
Learn how to spot a debt problem in stocks using D/E, interest coverage, and net debt/EBITDA ratios. Real examples from META and MSFT, plus danger thresholds you need to know.
Debt/Equity Ratio: How Much Debt Is Too Much?
The debt to equity ratio explained: why context, interest coverage, and sector norms matter far more than the raw number when assessing debt risk.
The Formula
Total Debt / Shareholders' Equity
Why It Matters
Shows how much a company is financing its operations through debt vs shareholder funds. High D/E can amplify returns — and losses.
Master HCA's Valuation
Get the complete institutional research report covering all fundamental and technical metrics.
View full HCA research report →HCA
-7.49x
Sector Median
0.74x
Sector Avg
2.51x
How HCA's Debt-to-Equity Ratio compares to sector peers.
Also Analyze
Not financial advice. Research tool only. Data may be delayed.