HCA Health Inc vs Ross Stores, Inc. — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.64B), while Ross Stores, Inc. trades at $252.15 (market cap $81.74B). The key difference: HCA Health Inc and Ross Stores, Inc. are close in size by market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays the higher dividend (0.75%). Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | ROST | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $89.64B | $81.74B |
Sector | Health | Consumer Cyclical |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $255.23 |
52-Week Low | $361.32 | $144.67 |
Enterprise Value | $140.18B | $82.34B |
Dividend Yield | 0.75% | 0.7% |
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.
Ross Stores (ROST) trades at $255.23, up 0.36% on the day, near its consensus price target of $259. The stock shows strong momentum with a bullish technical signal and consistent earnings beats, including Q1 2026 EPS of $2.02 versus $1.73 expected. Revenue growth accelerated to $21.13B in 2025, with net income margin improving to 9.74%. Recent expansion includes 47 new stores opened in June-July 2026, supporting future growth.
Outlook remains positive given robust fundamentals and analyst optimism, but valuation multiples like P/E of 35.65 suggest premium pricing. Key risks include consumer spending sensitivity and competitive pressures in discount retail. The stock offers growth potential with disciplined execution, though investors should weigh high valuation against earnings sustainability.
Trailing returns across standard periods
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 →Ross Stores is a leading American off-price apparel and home fashion retailer, operating over 1,920 stores (at the end of fiscal 2021) across the Ross Dress for Less and dd's Discounts banners. Ross offers a variety of name-brand products and targets undercutting conventional retailers' regular prices by 20%-70%. The company uses an opportunistic, flexible merchandising approach
Read more on ROST →