HCA Health Inc vs Southwest Airlines Co — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $371.96 (market cap $82.17B), while Southwest Airlines Co trades at $48.35 (market cap $23.63B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 3.5× Southwest Airlines Co's market cap, and Southwest Airlines Co pays the higher dividend (1.49%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | LUV | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.17B | $23.63B |
Sector | Health | Industrials |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $54.80 |
52-Week Low | $334.32 | $29.06 |
Enterprise Value | $131.08B | $26.70B |
Dividend Yield | 0.84% | 1.49% |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $370.74, down 0.12% on the day, with a bearish technical signal but strong fundamentals including consistent earnings beats and revenue growth to $75.6 billion in 2025. The stock faces headwinds from lowered 2026 guidance and negative news flow, but maintains a solid valuation with a P/E of 12.79 and positive analyst consensus.
The outlook is mixed: attractive valuation and operational strength support upside to the $469.40 price target, but near-term risks from payer mix shifts and legal investigations warrant caution. Long-term growth drivers include capacity expansion and medical advancements, though investor sentiment is currently pressured.
Southwest Airlines (LUV) trades at $48.28, up 0.42% today, with a neutral technical signal and mixed earnings history. Recent Q1 2026 EPS missed expectations, but Q4 2025 and Q3 2025 beat. Financials show modest revenue growth to $28.06B in 2025, but net income margin is thin at 2.83%. Analyst consensus is mixed with 42% buy, 47% hold, and 11% sell ratings, and a $52.47 price target implies potential upside. Key news highlights Q2 2026 earnings due July 23, 2026, amid fuel cost volatility and travel demand resilience.
LUV presents a cautious opportunity with upside to the consensus target, supported by operational improvements and sector tailwinds, but risks from fuel price swings, execution challenges, and thin margins warrant careful monitoring. The stock's valuation at a P/E of 32.05 appears elevated relative to earnings growth, requiring strong future performance to justify current levels.
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 →Southwest Airlines is the largest domestic carrier in the United States, as measured by the number of originating passengers boarded. Southwest operates over 700 aircraft in an all-Boeing 737 fleet. Despite expanding into longer routes and business travel, the airline still specializes in short-haul leisure flights, using a point-to-point network. Southwest operates a low-cost carrier business model.
Read more on LUV →