HCA HealthcareHCA +4.39%91 Operating Margin % is 14.98% as of Mar. 2026, which is 1% above its 10-year median of 14.88. GuruFocus rates HCA with a GF Score™ of 91/100 and a GF Value™ of $452.20 (Fairly Valued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 666 Healthcare Providers & Services companies, HCA Healthcare ranks better than 82.88% on this metric.
HCA Healthcare Inc operating margin is expanding. Margin expansion is usually a good sign.
The historical rank and industry rank for HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % or its related term are showing as below:
HCA'
s Operating Margin % Range Over the Past 10 Years
Min: 13.89 Med: 14.88 Max: 16.47
Current: 15.67
HCA's Operating Margin % is ranked better than 82.88% of 666
companies
in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry
Industry Median: 4.855
vs HCA: 15.67
HCA Healthcare's 5-Year Average Operating Margin % Growth Rate was 0.80% per year.
Just like Gross Margin %, it is important to see a company maintains its operating margin over time. Among the same industry, a company with higher operating margin is more efficient in its operation. It is also more stable during industry slowdown or recessions. Peter Lynch prefers those with higher margins than those with lower margins.
Be Aware
Operating Margin % can be manipulated by adjusting the rate of depreciation, depletion and amortization (DDA).
If a company is facing competition, its Operating Margin % may decline. Often the Operating Margin % declines well before the company's Revenue or even profit decline. Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important indicator of whether the company is facing problems.
For instance, by 2012, Nokia (NOK)'s problems were well known and its stock had lost more than 90% of its market value since 2007. But Nokias Operating Margin % had already been in decline since 2002, although its Earnings per Share (Diluted) were still rising. Investors who paid attention to Operating Margin % would have avoided this huge loss. The same can be said for Research-in-Motion (RIMM).
Therefore, Operating Margin % is a very important screening filter for GuruFocus. GuruFocus's Buffett-Munger screener requires that the profit margin is either consistent or expanding. The Model Portfolio of the Buffett-Munger screener has outperformed the market every year since inception in 2009.
HCA Healthcare Operating Margin % Related Terms
HCA Healthcare Operating Margin % Historical Data
* Premium members only.
The historical data trend for HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % can be seen below:
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
HCA vs THC, DVA, EHC: Operating Margin % Comparison
For the Medical Care Facilities subindustry, HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Operating Margin % data, can be viewed below:
* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.
HCA Healthcare Operating Margin % vs Healthcare Providers & Services Industry
For the Healthcare Providers & Services industry and Healthcare sector, HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % falls into.
Operating Margin % - also known as operating income margin, operating profit margin and return on sales (ROS) - is the ratio of Operating Income divided by net sales or Revenue, usually presented in percent.
HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % for the fiscal year that ended in Dec. 2025 is calculated as
* For Operating Data section: All numbers are indicated by the unit behind each term and all currency related amount are in USD. * For other sections: All numbers are in millions except for per share data, ratio, and percentage. All currency related amount are indicated in the company's associated stock exchange currency.
HCA Healthcare (HCA) has a Operating Margin % of 14.98% as of Mar. 2026. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on HCA Healthcare and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 14.88. Over the past decade, HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % has ranged from 13.89 to 16.47. According to the industry distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #114 out of 666 companies in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, placing it in the top 17.1%.
Is HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % too high?
HCA Healthcare's current Operating Margin % of 14.98% is near median its 10-year median of 14.88. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 13.89 to a high of 16.47. The Healthcare Providers & Services industry median Operating Margin % is 4.86. HCA Healthcare's value of 14.98% is 208.5% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #114 out of 666 companies in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, which is in the top quartile — a strong position relative to peers. Overall, HCA Healthcare has a GF Score™ of 91/100 and is considered Fairly Valued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does HCA Healthcare's Operating Margin % compare to THC and DVA?
According to the Healthcare Providers & Services industry distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #114 out of 666 companies for Operating Margin %. This places HCA Healthcare in the top 17% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Operating Margin % is 4.86. HCA Healthcare's value of 14.98% is 208.5% above this benchmark. Historically, HCA Healthcare's own Operating Margin % has ranged from 13.89 to 16.47 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 14.88 vs. the industry median of 4.86, HCA Healthcare has consistently been above the industry average. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Operating Margin % for a Healthcare Providers & Services company?
The median Operating Margin % among Healthcare Providers & Services companies is 4.86, based on 666 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Operating Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Operating Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. HCA Healthcare's current Operating Margin % of 14.98% is 208.5% above the industry median. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Operating Margin % mean?
A high Operating Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Operating margin is the ratio of total operating income to net sales. View historical data on HCA Healthcare and its competitors. For the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, the median Operating Margin % is 4.86 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. HCA Healthcare's current Operating Margin % is 14.98%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 14.88. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is HCA Healthcare stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, HCA Healthcare (HCA) is currently considered Fairly Valued. The stock's GF Value™ is $452.20, compared to a current price of $410.50 — trading 9.2% below its estimated fair value. The current Operating Margin % is 14.98%, which is near median its 10-year median of 14.88 and 208.5% above the Healthcare Providers & Services industry median of 4.86. HCA Healthcare's overall GF Score™ is 91/100 with 3 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Operating Margin % calculated?
Operating Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For HCA Healthcare (HCA), the current Operating Margin % is 14.98% as of Mar. 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.
Is HCA Healthcare (HCA) Overvalued in 2026?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, HCA Healthcare stock appears to be undervalued.
The current stock price of $410.50 is trading 9.2% below its estimated GF Value™ of $452.20.
GuruFocus considers HCA Healthcare to be Fairly Valued.
Key valuation signals for HCA:
Operating Margin %: 14.98% (near median its 10-year median of 14.88)
GF Value™: $452.20 vs. price of $410.50 (9.2% below fair value)
Industry Position: 208.5% above the Healthcare Providers & Services median (#114 of 666)
No single metric tells the full story. See the HCA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.
HCA Healthcare is a Nashville-based healthcare provider organization operating the largest collection of acute-care hospitals in the United States. As of December 2025, the firm owned and operated 190 hospitals and over 2,500 outpatient facillities across 19 states and a small foothold in the United Kingdom.
91GF Score
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