AstraZeneca plc vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? AstraZeneca plc trades at $157.95 (market cap $248.14B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $410 (market cap $89.08B). The key difference: AstraZeneca plc is far larger — about 2.8× HCA Health Inc's market cap, and AstraZeneca plc pays the higher dividend (2.01%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| AZN | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $248.14B | $89.08B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $209.48 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $147.06 | $361.32 |
Enterprise Value | $275.41B | $139.62B |
Dividend Yield | 2.01% | 0.76% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
AstraZeneca (AZN) trades at $161.91, up 0.3% on the day, amid mixed technical signals and strong fundamental performance. The stock exhibits a bearish technical trend with key support at $161 and resistance at $163, while recent earnings consistently beat expectations with Q2 2026 EPS of $2.63 versus $2.50 estimated. Revenue growth has been robust, climbing from $44.4B in 2022 to $58.7B in 2025, with a net income margin of 17.4% in 2025. Recent news centers on potential merger discussions with Bristol Myers Squibb, though reports on August 5, 2026, from Reuters indicate no current talks.
The outlook for AZN is cautiously optimistic, driven by solid profitability and analyst support, but tempered by merger-related volatility and a bearish technical setup. Investment opportunities lie in its high gross margin of 81.88% and positive earnings trajectory, while risks include integration challenges from any future acquisitions and market sensitivity to deal speculation. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 23.76 appears reasonable given its growth profile.
HCA Healthcare trades at $414.03, up 0.16% today, with strong technical momentum as price sits above key support levels. The company demonstrates solid fundamentals with Q2 2026 earnings beating estimates, revenue growth to $75.6B in 2025, and consistent dividend payments. Recent management appointments signal strategic focus on clinical operations and ambulatory services.
HCA presents a compelling investment case with attractive valuation (P/E 13.8), analyst consensus price target of $449.93 (8.7% upside), and strong institutional support. However, risks include ongoing legal investigations, rising expenses impacting margins, and high debt levels at 80.9% debt-to-asset ratio that could constrain financial flexibility.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
A merger between Astra of Sweden and Zeneca Group of the United Kingdom formed AstraZeneca in 1999. The firm sells branded drugs across several major therapeutic classes, including gastrointestinal, diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, cancer, and immunology. The majority of sales come from international markets with the United States representing close to one third of its sales.
Read more on AZN →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 →