HCA Health Inc vs Altria Group Inc — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $371.9 (market cap $82.17B), while Altria Group Inc trades at $73.34 (market cap $124.67B). The key difference: Altria Group Inc is the larger of the two by market cap, and Altria Group Inc pays the higher dividend (5.68%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | MO | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.17B | $124.67B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Staples |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $74.66 |
52-Week Low | $334.32 | $54.72 |
Enterprise Value | $131.08B | $145.75B |
Dividend Yield | 0.84% | 5.68% |
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.
Altria (MO) trades at $74.14, down slightly by 0.09% on the day, with a bullish technical signal from moving averages and neutral oscillators. The stock shows strong profitability with a 39.52% net income margin and consistent dividend payments, including a recent $1.06 dividend declared for July 2026. Revenue remains stable around $20.1B for 2025, though net income dipped to $6.95B from prior peaks. Analyst consensus is predominantly bullish with 16 buys and a $71.00 price target.
Outlook: MO offers a high-yield dividend appeal and defensive positioning amid market volatility, but faces risks from declining smoking trends and regulatory pressures. Earnings beats in recent quarters provide support, though debt levels and competitive shifts in nicotine products warrant caution for long-term growth investors.
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 →Altria comprises Philip Morris USA, U.S. Smokeless Tobacco, John Middleton, Helix Innovations, and Philip Morris Capital, although the company plans to wind down Philip Morris Capital by the end of 2022. It holds a 10% interest in the world's largest brewer, Anheuser-Busch InBev. Through its tobacco subsidiaries, Altria holds the leading position in cigarettes and smokeless tobacco in the United States and the number-two spot in machine-made cigars. The company's Marlboro brand is the leading cigarette brand in the U.S. with a 43% share in 2020. Altria holds strategic investments in JUUL Labs (35% economic interest) and Cronos (42%).
Read more on MO →