HCA Health Inc vs Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $371.96 (market cap $82.17B), while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated trades at $480 (market cap $121.95B). The key difference: Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated is the larger of the two by market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays a 0.84% dividend while Vertex Pharmaceuticals Incorporated pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | VRTX | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $82.17B | $121.95B |
Sector | Health | Health |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $529.59 |
52-Week Low | $334.32 | $366.54 |
Enterprise Value | $131.08B | $116.69B |
Dividend Yield | 0.84% | — |
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.
Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX) trades at $480.51, down 1.06% on the day, with a bullish technical signal driven by moving averages. The stock shows strong profitability with a 35.51% net income margin and robust cash flow, though it faces a recent earnings miss. A major $10 billion acquisition of Crinetics Pharmaceuticals aims to expand its endocrinology portfolio, adding potential for significant future revenue growth.
The outlook remains positive with an 85.71% analyst buy rating and a $538 consensus price target, implying 12% upside. Key risks include integration challenges from the acquisition and reliance on cystic fibrosis treatments. Earnings growth and successful pipeline execution are critical catalysts for sustained appreciation.
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 →Vertex Pharmaceuticals is a global biotechnology company that discovers and develops small-molecule drugs for the treatment of serious diseases. Its key drugs are Kalydeco, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta/Kaftrio for cystic fibrosis, where Vertex therapies remain the standard of care globally. In addition to its focus on cystic fibrosis, Vertex is diversifying its pipeline through gene-editing therapies such as CTX001 for beta-thalassemia and sickle-cell disease, small-molecule inhibitors targeting acute and chronic pain using non-opioid treatments, and small-molecule inhibitors of APOL1-mediated kidney diseases. Vertex is also investigating cell therapies to deliver a potential functional cure for type 1 diabetes.
Read more on VRTX →