HCA Quick Ratio Analysis

The quick ratio measures whether a company can cover its short-term bills using only its most liquid assets—cash, marketable securities, and receivables—without selling inventory.

At 0.77x, HCA’s liquid assets cover 77% of its current liabilities, meaning it has less than $1 of quick assets for every $1 of near-term obligations. That level sits just above the sector median of 0.72x, placing HCA in the 54th percentile among peers, so it is broadly in line with the industry. The year-over-year change is unavailable, but quarter-over-quarter the ratio improved by 20.3%, rising from 0.64x to 0.77x. The combination of a slightly above-median level and a positive quarterly move suggests reduced short-term liquidity strain relative to recent history, though the sub-1.0x reading still indicates some reliance on cash flows or financing to meet obligations. On balance, this metric supports the overall NEUTRAL verdict: it shows no acute liquidity distress, but also no margin of safety beyond what is typical for the sector.

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