AZN vs. HCA: A Head-to-Head Stock Comparison
UpdatedHere’s a clear look at AZN 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
AZN dominates in value with a market cap of 432.07 billion USD, eclipsing HCA’s 91.85 billion USD by roughly 4.70×.
HCA carries a higher beta at 1.47, indicating it’s more sensitive to market moves, while AZN remains steadier at 0.18.
AZN trades as an ADR, giving U.S. investors a simple on-ramp to its foreign shares, while HCA remains a standard domestic listing.
| Symbol | AZN | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Company Name | AstraZeneca PLC | HCA Healthcare, Inc. |
| Country | GB | US |
| Sector | Healthcare | Healthcare |
| Industry | Drug Manufacturers - General | Medical - Care Facilities |
| CEO | Mr. Pascal Claude Roland Soriot D.V.M., M.B.A. | Mr. Samuel N. Hazen |
| Price | 69.68 USD | 381.81 USD |
| Market Cap | 432.07 billion USD | 91.85 billion USD |
| Beta | 0.18 | 1.47 |
| Exchange | NASDAQ | NYSE |
| IPO Date | May 12, 1993 | March 10, 2011 |
| ADR | Yes | No |
Performance Comparison
This chart compares the performance of AZN 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 AZN 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, AZN (P/B 5.26) has positive book value.
| Symbol | AZN | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Price-to-Earnings Ratio (P/E, TTM) | 27.80 | 16.48 |
| Forward PEG Ratio (TTM) | 2.50 | 1.23 |
| Price-to-Sales Ratio (P/S, TTM) | 3.93 | 1.28 |
| Price-to-Book Ratio (P/B, TTM) | 5.26 | -27.06 |
| Price-to-Free Cash Flow Ratio (P/FCF, TTM) | 22.33 | 18.56 |
| EV-to-EBITDA (TTM) | 13.68 | 9.76 |
| EV-to-Sales (TTM) | 4.41 | 1.92 |
| EV-to-Free Cash Flow (TTM) | 25.07 | 27.73 |
Dividend Comparison
AZN’s dividend yield of 1.39% is about 97% higher than HCA’s 0.71%, underscoring its stronger focus on returning cash to shareholders.
| Symbol | AZN | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Dividend Yield (TTM) | 1.39% | 0.71% |
Financial Strength Metrics Comparison
This section dives into the financial resilience of AZN and HCA, spotlighting key metrics like liquidity, leverage, and debt coverage. Check out the standout observations below where notable differences or extremes pop up.
- AZN’s current ratio of 0.90 signals a possible liquidity squeeze, while HCA at 1.19 comfortably covers its short-term obligations.
- AZN’s quick ratio of 0.70 suggests it may struggle to cover immediate liabilities without selling inventory or raising cash, whereas HCA at 1.06 maintains a comfortable buffer of liquid assets.
- HCA has negative equity (debt-to-equity ratio -13.20), suggesting asset shortfalls, whereas AZN at 0.77 preserves healthier equity coverage.
| Symbol | AZN | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Current Ratio (TTM) | 0.90 | 1.19 |
| Quick Ratio (TTM) | 0.70 | 1.06 |
| Debt-to-Equity Ratio (TTM) | 0.77 | -13.20 |
| Debt-to-Assets Ratio (TTM) | 0.30 | 0.78 |
| Interest Coverage Ratio (TTM) | 7.95 | 5.17 |