HCA HealthcareHCA +1.22%91 Pretax Margin % is 11.97% as of Mar. 2026, which is 2% above its 10-year median of 11.73. GuruFocus rates HCA with a GF Score™ of 91/100 and a GF Value™ of $451.66 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 3 warning signs investors should review. Among 665 Healthcare Providers & Services companies, HCA Healthcare ranks better than 76.84% on this metric.
The pretax margin, as know as pretax profit margin, is widely used to measure the operating efficiency of a company before deducting taxes.
The pretax margin is sometimes preferred over the net margin as tax expenditures can make profitability comparisons between companies misleading.
It is a useful tool to compare companies operating in the same sector and less effective when comparing companies from other sectors as each industry generally has different operating expenses and sales patterns.
The long term trend of the pretax margin is a good indicator of the competitiveness and health of the business.
HCA Healthcare Pretax Margin % Related Terms
HCA Healthcare Pretax Margin % Historical Data
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The historical data trend for HCA Healthcare's Pretax 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.
For the Medical Care Facilities subindustry, HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin %, along with its competitors' market caps and Pretax 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 Pretax Margin % vs Healthcare Providers & Services Industry
For the Healthcare Providers & Services industry and Healthcare sector, HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin % distribution charts can be found below:
* The bar in red indicates where HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin % falls into.
* 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 Pretax Margin % of 11.97% as of Mar. 2026. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on HCA Healthcare and its competitors. This is near median its historical median of 11.73. Over the past decade, HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin % has ranged from 10.04 to 16.74. According to the industry distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #154 out of 665 companies in the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, placing it in the top 23.2%.
Is HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin % too high?
HCA Healthcare's current Pretax Margin % of 11.97% is near median its 10-year median of 11.73. Over the past 10 years, this metric has ranged from a low of 10.04 to a high of 16.74. The Healthcare Providers & Services industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.00. HCA Healthcare's value of 11.97% is 199.3% above this industry median. Based on the distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #154 out of 665 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 Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does HCA Healthcare's Pretax Margin % compare to THC and DVA?
According to the Healthcare Providers & Services industry distribution chart, HCA Healthcare ranks #154 out of 665 companies for Pretax Margin %. This places HCA Healthcare in the top 23% of its industry — outperforming the majority of peers. The industry median Pretax Margin % is 4.00. HCA Healthcare's value of 11.97% is 199.3% above this benchmark. Historically, HCA Healthcare's own Pretax Margin % has ranged from 10.04 to 16.74 over the past decade. While the company's 10-year median is 11.73 vs. the industry median of 4.00, 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 Pretax Margin % for a Healthcare Providers & Services company?
The median Pretax Margin % among Healthcare Providers & Services companies is 4.00, based on 665 companies in the industry. Companies in the top quartile (top 25%) have a Pretax Margin % significantly above this median, while those in the bottom quartile fall well below. However, Pretax Margin % should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. HCA Healthcare's current Pretax Margin % of 11.97% is 199.3% 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 Pretax Margin % mean?
A high Pretax Margin % can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Pre-Tax margin is the ratio of total pre-tax income to net sales. View historical data on HCA Healthcare and its competitors. For the Healthcare Providers & Services industry, the median Pretax Margin % is 4.00 — values significantly above this may indicate overvaluation, while values below may suggest a bargain or underlying issues. HCA Healthcare's current Pretax Margin % is 11.97%, which is near median its own 10-year median of 11.73. 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 Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is $451.66, compared to a current price of $391.68 — trading 13.3% below its estimated fair value. The current Pretax Margin % is 11.97%, which is near median its 10-year median of 11.73 and 199.3% above the Healthcare Providers & Services industry median of 4.00. 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 Pretax Margin % calculated?
Pretax Margin % is calculated from a company's financial statements. For HCA Healthcare (HCA), the current Pretax Margin % is 11.97% 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 $391.68 is trading 13.3% below its estimated GF Value™ of $451.66.
GuruFocus considers HCA Healthcare to be Modestly Undervalued.
Key valuation signals for HCA:
Pretax Margin %: 11.97% (near median its 10-year median of 11.73)
GF Value™: $451.66 vs. price of $391.68 (13.3% below fair value)
Industry Position: 199.3% above the Healthcare Providers & Services median (#154 of 665)
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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