Let's talk about the popular HCA Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:HCA). The company's shares saw significant share price movement during recent months on the NYSE, rising to highs of US$343 and falling to the lows of US$297. Some share price movements can give investors a better opportunity to enter into the stock, and potentially buy at a lower price. A question to answer is whether HCA Healthcare's current trading price of US$322 reflective of the actual value of the large-cap? Or is it currently undervalued, providing us with the opportunity to buy? Let's take a look at HCA Healthcare's outlook and value based on the most recent financial data to see if there are any catalysts for a price change.

What Is HCA Healthcare Worth?

Great news for investors – HCA Healthcare is still trading at a fairly cheap price. Our valuation model shows that the intrinsic value for the stock is $485.48, but it is currently trading at US$322 on the share market, meaning that there is still an opportunity to buy now. Although, there may be another chance to buy again in the future. This is because HCA Healthcare's beta (a measure of share price volatility) is high, meaning its price movements will be exaggerated relative to the rest of the market. If the market is bearish, the company's shares will likely fall by more than the rest of the market, providing a prime buying opportunity.

What does the future of HCA Healthcare look like?

Future outlook is an important aspect when you're looking at buying a stock, especially if you are an investor looking for growth in your portfolio. Although value investors would argue that it's the intrinsic value relative to the price that matter the most, a more compelling investment thesis would be high growth potential at a cheap price. HCA Healthcare's earnings growth are expected to be in the teens in the upcoming years, indicating a solid future ahead. This should lead to robust cash flows, feeding into a higher share value.

What This Means For You

Are you a shareholder? Since HCA is currently undervalued, it may be a great time to accumulate more of your holdings in the stock. With a positive outlook on the horizon, it seems like this growth has not yet been fully factored into the share price. However, there are also other factors such as capital structure to consider, which could explain the current undervaluation.

Are you a potential investor? If you've been keeping an eye on HCA for a while, now might be the time to enter the stock. Its buoyant future outlook isn't fully reflected in the current share price yet, which means it's not too late to buy HCA. But before you make any investment decisions, consider other factors such as the track record of its management team, in order to make a well-informed buy.

So while earnings quality is important, it's equally important to consider the risks facing HCA Healthcare at this point in time. In terms of investment risks, we've identified 2 warning signs with HCA Healthcare, and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If you are no longer interested in HCA Healthcare, you can use our free platform to see our list of over 50 other stocks with a high growth potential.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team@simplywallst.com