Will HCA Holdings Beat These Analyst Estimates?

HCA Holdings (NYSE: HCA  ) is expected to report Q4 earnings around Feb. 3. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:

The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict HCA Holdings's revenues will grow 6.0% and EPS will wane -11.7%.

The average estimate for revenue is $8.93 billion. On the bottom line, the average EPS estimate is $0.83.

Revenue details
Last quarter, HCA Holdings logged revenue of $8.89 billion. GAAP reported sales were 11% higher than the prior-year quarter's $8.00 billion.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Dollar amounts in millions. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

EPS details
Last quarter, non-GAAP EPS came in at $0.77. GAAP EPS of $0.78 for Q3 were much higher than the prior-year quarter's $0.11 per share.

Source: S&P Capital IQ. Quarterly periods. Non-GAAP figures may vary to maintain comparability with estimates.

Recent performance
For the preceding quarter, gross margin was 42.0%, 50 basis points worse than the prior-year quarter. Operating margin was 12.5%, 20 basis points better than the prior-year quarter. Net margin was 4.0%, 320 basis points better than the prior-year quarter.

Looking ahead

The full year's average estimate for revenue is $35.35 billion. The average EPS estimate is $3.53.

Investor sentiment
The stock has a four-star rating (out of five) at Motley Fool CAPS, with 60 members out of 66 rating the stock outperform, and six members rating it underperform. Among 24 CAPS All-Star picks (recommendations by the highest-ranked CAPS members), 23 give HCA Holdings a green thumbs-up, and one give it a red thumbs-down.

Of Wall Street recommendations tracked by S&P Capital IQ, the average opinion on HCA Holdings is outperform, with an average price target of $33.52.

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