Price movement over the last 24 hours
Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. trades at $296.7 (market cap $66.70B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $404.6 (market cap $90.20B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. pays the higher dividend (2.42%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| APD | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $66.70B | $90.20B |
Sector | Basic Materials | Health |
52-Week High | $314.19 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $230.42 | $334.32 |
Enterprise Value | $84.11B | $139.10B |
Dividend Yield | 2.42% | 0.77% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
APD trades at $299.53, up 1.24% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and strong analyst support. Recent earnings beats and strategic project exits, like the Louisiana Clean Energy Complex, have boosted investor confidence. The company maintains solid profitability margins but faces pressure from a negative net income in 2025 due to a pre-tax charge. Cash flow trends show volatility, with significant investing outflows for growth initiatives.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $324.89, implying ~8% upside. Risks include high debt levels, execution on new projects, and macroeconomic sensitivity. Long-term growth is supported by renewable energy investments, but near-term profitability recovery is key for sustained gains.
HCA Healthcare trades at $406.59, down 0.59% on the day, with a bullish technical signal and strong fundamental performance. The stock has consistently beaten earnings estimates in recent quarters, with Q2 2026 EPS expected at $7.37. Revenue growth is robust, reaching $75.60 billion in 2025, while valuation metrics like a P/E of 14.01 and EV/EBITDA of 8.88 suggest relative attractiveness. Recent news highlights capacity expansion and gene therapy advancements.
The outlook for HCA remains positive, supported by earnings momentum and strategic investments, but risks include high debt levels and regulatory pressures. Analyst consensus is bullish with a $486.10 price target, indicating ~20% upside potential from current levels.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Since its founding in 1940, Air Products has become one of the leading industrial gas suppliers globally, with operations in 50 countries and 19,000 employees. The company is the largest supplier of hydrogen and helium in the world. It has a unique portfolio serving customers in a number of industries, including chemicals, energy, healthcare, metals, and electronics. Air Products generated $10.3 billion in revenue in fiscal 2021.
Read more on APD →HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the U.S. As of December 2021, the firm owned and operated 182 hospitals, 125 freestanding outpatient surgery centers, and a broad network of physician offices, urgent care clinics, and freestanding emergency rooms across nearly 20 states and a small foothold in England.
Read more on HCA →