HCA Health Inc vs Heron Therapeutics Inc — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.64B), while Heron Therapeutics Inc trades at $0.33 (market cap $63.41M). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 1413.7× Heron Therapeutics Inc's market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays a 0.75% dividend while Heron Therapeutics Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | HRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $89.64B | $63.41M |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $1.49 |
52-Week Low | $361.32 | $0.32 |
Enterprise Value | $140.18B | $161.31M |
Dividend Yield | 0.75% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $413.36, up 1.09% on the day, with a bullish technical outlook supported by moving averages and a consensus analyst price target of $449.93. The company reported strong Q2 2026 earnings of $7.59 per share, beating estimates, and has shown consistent revenue growth, reaching $75.60 billion in 2025. Recent corporate actions include dividend payments of $0.78 per share, while news highlights executive appointments and ongoing legal investigations.
The stock presents a compelling investment case with attractive valuation multiples like a P/E of 13.86 and robust profitability, but faces risks from legal probes and high debt levels. Upside potential is supported by analyst optimism and solid operational cash flow, though investors should monitor expense pressures and regulatory developments.
Heron Therapeutics (HRTX) trades at $0.49, down 1.64% today, with a bearish technical signal from moving averages. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue of $37.7M but missed earnings expectations with a $0.03 loss per share. Despite negative net income margins, HRTX maintains strong analyst support with 94.7% buy ratings. Recent news highlights patent litigation developments and quarterly earnings underperformance.
HRTX faces significant fundamental challenges with persistent losses and declining revenue projections, though analyst consensus remains overwhelmingly bullish. Investment opportunity exists if the company can achieve profitability and meet growth targets, but risks include ongoing operational losses, competitive pressures, and execution challenges in the biotechnology sector.
Trailing returns across standard periods
Latest headlines on both assets
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 →Heron Therapeutics is a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving patient care. It develops best-in-class medicines for pain management and cancer care to address unmet medical needs.
Read more on HRTX →