EV/EBITDA

HCA's current EV/EBITDA of 9.1x means its enterprise value (market cap plus debt minus cash) is 9.1 times its earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization — a common measure of how cheap or expensive a stock is relative to its operating profits.

That 9.1x is well below the sector median of 13.6x, placing HCA in the 26th percentile among sector peers, indicating it trades at a discount compared to most similar companies. Over the last eight quarters the metric has been decreasing overall, though the quarter-over-quarter change shows a +2.4% uptick to 9.1x from 8.9x; year-over-year change is not available. The combination of a below-median level and a generally decreasing trend suggests modest valuation compression, which can be a contrarian opportunity if fundamentals hold, but the recent small increase warrants monitoring for a possible bottom. This metric supports the overall NEUTRAL verdict because the discounted valuation offers some margin of safety, yet the flat-to-slightly-rising short-term move and lack of year-over-year context prevent a clear bullish or bearish read.

Frequently Asked Questions

Closest Sector Peers