ABT vs. HCA: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at ABT and HCA, comparing key factors like performance, valuation metrics, dividends, and financial strength. It’s built for investors or anyone curious to see how these two stocks match up.
Company Overview
ABT dominates in value with a market cap of 231.49 billion USD, eclipsing HCA’s 91.85 billion USD by roughly 2.52×.
HCA carries a higher beta at 1.47, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while ABT remains steadier at 0.74.
| Symbol | ABT | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | Abbott Laboratories | HCA Healthcare, Inc. |
| Country | US | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Medical - Devices | Medical - Care Facilities |
| CEO | Mr. Robert B. Ford | Mr. Samuel N. Hazen |
| Price | 133.05 USD | 381.81 USD |
| Market Cap | 231.49 billion USD | 91.85 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.74 | 1.47 |
| Exchange | NYSE | NYSE |
| IPO Date | March 17, 1980 | March 10, 2011 |
| ADR | No | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of ABT and HCA over the past year by tracking the growth of an initial $10,000 investment in each (starting one year ago).
Hover over the lines to see the investment’s value and total return (%) at specific dates.
Data is adjusted for dividends and splits.
Valuation Metrics Comparison
The section examines key financial ratios to assess the valuation of ABT and HCA based on earnings, cash flow, sales, and book value. Pay attention to the following notable points where extreme values stand out.
- HCA carries a sub-zero price-to-book ratio of -27.06, indicating negative equity. In contrast, ABT (P/B 2.48) has positive book value.
| Symbol | ABT | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 17.22 | 16.48 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 1.73 | 1.23 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 5.47 | 1.28 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 2.48 | -27.06 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 34.77 | 18.56 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 22.97 | 9.76 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 5.63 | 1.92 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 35.78 | 27.73 |
Dividend Comparison
ABT’s dividend yield of 1.71% is about 142% higher than HCA’s 0.71%, underscoring its stronger focus on returning cash to shareholders.
| Symbol | ABT | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.71% | 0.71% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of ABT and HCA, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- HCA has negative equity (debt-to-equity ratio -13.20), suggesting asset shortfalls, whereas ABT at 0.14 preserves healthier equity coverage.
| Symbol | ABT | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 1.78 | 1.19 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 1.27 | 1.06 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.14 | -13.20 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.16 | 0.78 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 15.39 | 5.17 |