HCA Health Inc vs 22nd Century Group Inc — how do they compare? HCA Health Inc trades at $411.81 (market cap $89.08B), while 22nd Century Group Inc trades at $4.33 (market cap $1.52M). The key difference: HCA Health Inc is far larger — about 58605.3× 22nd Century Group Inc's market cap, and HCA Health Inc pays a 0.76% dividend while 22nd Century Group Inc pays none. Which is the better fit depends on your goals.
| HCA | XXII | |
|---|---|---|
Market Cap | $89.08B | $1.52M |
Sector | Health | Technology |
52-Week High | $545.13 | $801.00 |
52-Week Low | $361.32 | $3.72 |
Enterprise Value | $139.62B | -$6.71M |
Dividend Yield | 0.76% | — |
Signals from Pluang's Aura AI — not financial advice
HCA Healthcare trades at $413.27, down 0.18% on the day, with strong technical momentum showing a bullish moving average signal. The company reported solid Q2 2026 earnings with EPS of $7.59 beating estimates of $7.56, marking the third consecutive quarterly beat. Revenue growth continues with 2025 revenue reaching $75.60 billion, while maintaining healthy profit margins of 8.77%. Recent management appointments and ongoing legal investigations create mixed sentiment around the stock.
HCA presents a compelling value opportunity with attractive valuation multiples (P/E 13.8, EV/EBITDA 8.8) and strong analyst support (63% buy ratings, $449.93 price target). However, investors face risks from multiple ongoing legal investigations, high debt levels (debt-to-asset ratio 80.9% in 2025), and margin pressure from rising operational costs. The stock offers 8.9% upside to consensus target but requires monitoring of legal developments and expense management.
XXII trades at $4.38, up 0.69% with neutral technical signals. The company shows concerning fundamentals with negative profit margins (-65.76% net income margin) and ROE of -130.19%, though valuation ratios appear low (P/S 0.03, P/B 0.07). Recent corporate actions include a 20:1 reverse stock split in June 2026. Analyst sentiment remains positive with 75% buy ratings, while the company expands VLN® product distribution in key markets like California and New York.
The outlook remains speculative given persistent losses despite revenue generation. Investment opportunity lies in successful execution of reduced-nicotine cigarette expansion and FDA regulatory progress. Key risks include continued cash burn, competitive pressures, and dependency on regulatory approvals for growth catalysts.
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 →22nd Century Group is a plant biotechnology company that uses genetic engineering and gene editing to control the levels of nicotine in tobacco plants. Its flagship product line, VLN®, is the first and only combustible cigarette authorized by the FDA as a Modified Risk Tobacco Product (MRTP), containing 95% less nicotine than traditional cigarettes to help adult smokers smoke less.
Read more on XXII →