CVS Health Corp vs HCA Health Inc — how do they compare? CVS Health Corp trades at $104.32 (market cap $135.48B), while HCA Health Inc trades at $366.52 (market cap $80.66B). The key difference: CVS Health Corp is the larger of the two by market cap, and CVS Health Corp pays the higher dividend (2.51%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| CVS | HCA | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $135.48B | $80.66B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $106.18 | $545.13 |
52-Week Low | $58.75 | $334.32 |
Enterprise Value | $202.02B | $129.57B |
Dividend Yield | 2.51% | 0.86% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
CVS Health trades at $105.9, up 1.68% recently, with a bullish technical signal and strong analyst support (84.6% buy ratings). The company has beaten earnings estimates for three consecutive quarters, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.57 versus $2.18 expected. Revenue growth remains robust, reaching $402.07B in 2025, though net margins are thin at 0.72%. Recent news highlights a settlement with the FTC advancing prescription drug affordability initiatives.
The outlook is positive given earnings momentum and strategic positioning in healthcare services, but risks include regulatory pressures and margin compression. The consensus price target of $110.62 suggests modest upside from current levels, supported by dividend payments and institutional confidence.
HCA Healthcare stock trades at $390.74, down 3.9% following a lowered 2026 profit outlook. The company maintains strong fundamentals with revenue growth to $75.6B in 2025 and consistent earnings beats, though technical indicators show bearish momentum. Recent news highlights challenges from payer mix shifts and rising uninsured patients, creating near-term headwinds despite long-term capacity expansion initiatives.
The stock presents a valuation opportunity with a P/E of 13.5x below industry averages, supported by analyst consensus target of $481.80. Key risks include execution on guidance and healthcare reimbursement pressures, but institutional sentiment remains positive with 63% buy ratings, suggesting potential recovery once near-term uncertainties resolve.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
Following its acquisition of Aetna in late 2018, CVS Health now provides an even more integrated healthcare-services offering for its members. Legacy CVS combined both the largest pharmacy benefit manager, processing over 2 billion adjusted claims annually, and a sizable pharmacy operation, including nearly 10,000 retail pharmacy locations primarily in the U.S. Adding a managed-care organization with 24 million medical members gives the company a strong position in the insurance industry and should help CVS better control overall healthcare costs for its clients.
Read more on CVS →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 →