HCA Health Inc vs Heron Therapeutics Inc — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.08B), while Heron Therapeutics Inc trades at $0.32 (market cap $61.47M). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 1449.2× Heron Therapeutics Inc's market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays a 0.76% dividend while Heron Therapeutics Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | HRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $89.08B | $61.47M |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $1.49 |
52-Week Low | $361.32 | $0.32 |
Enterprise Value | $139.62B | $168.21M |
Dividend Yield | 0.76% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $414.66, up 0.15% today, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and a P/E of 13.8. Revenue grew to $75.60B in 2025, with net income of $6.78B, and the company has beaten EPS estimates for three consecutive quarters. Recent corporate actions include a $0.78 dividend scheduled for September 2026.
The outlook is positive with a consensus price target of $449.93, implying 8.5% upside, supported by strong earnings and institutional buy ratings. Risks include high debt levels, regulatory investigations, and expense pressures noted in Q2 2026 results. Investors should weigh solid fundamentals against legal and operational headwinds.
Heron Therapeutics (HRTX) trades at $0.3409, up 3.24% today, but faces bearish technical signals with 18 sell indicators versus 6 buys. The company reported Q2 2026 revenue of $37.7 million but missed earnings expectations with a $0.03 per share loss. Despite strong analyst support (94.7% buy ratings), fundamental challenges persist with negative net income margins and elevated EV/EBITDA of 34.03.
Investment outlook remains cautious due to consistent earnings misses and negative cash flow from operations. The primary opportunity lies in analyst optimism and potential product growth, while risks include ongoing profitability challenges and competitive pressures 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 →