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HCA vs. MCK: HCA Healthcare vs. McKesson Stock Comparison

How do HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK) stack up? This page sets them side by side across company profile, performance and risk, profitability, growth, financial strength, dividends, and valuation, with selected fundamentals also measured against each stock's industry-group peers.

Company Profile

HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK) both belong to the Health Care Providers & Services industry, though HCA is classified under Health Care Facilities while MCK falls under Health Care Distributors.

Company profile comparison for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
Profile ItemHCAMCK
NameHCA Healthcare, Inc.McKesson Corporation
Country/RegionUnited StatesUnited States
GICS SectorHealth CareHealth Care
GICS Industry GroupHealth Care Equipment & ServicesHealth Care Equipment & Services
GICS IndustryHealth Care Providers & ServicesHealth Care Providers & Services
GICS Sub-IndustryHealth Care FacilitiesHealth Care Distributors
Market Capitalization103.40 billion USD122.48 billion USD
CurrencyUSDUSD
ExchangeNYSENYSE
Listing DateMarch 10, 2011November 10, 1994
Security TypeCommon StockCommon Stock

Price Performance

Cumulative Growth

HCA
MCK
GSPC
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Growth of a $10,000 investment over the past five years. Adjusted for dividends and splits.

Trailing Returns

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Trailing total returns for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK). Returns over one year are annualized.

Calendar-Year Returns

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Calendar-year total returns for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK). Each bar is that year's total return, measured year-end to year-end.

Performance Metrics

Price performance metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Total Return (1Y)6.56%25.40%
Total Return (3Y, Annualized)31.39%32.67%
Total Return (5Y, Annualized)16.40%37.84%

Risk Profile

Drawdown History

HCA
MCK
GSPC
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK), with S&P 500 (GSPC) for reference: Drawdown from the running peak over the past five years. Each line shows the decline from its prior peak; 0% marks a new high.

Return Distribution

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Distribution of monthly total returns for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK). Each bar is the share of months whose return fell in that 5% bucket.

Risk Metrics

Risk profile metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Volatility (1Y, Annualized)32.89%31.71%
Beta (5Y)1.070.26
Max Drawdown (5Y)-39.49%-27.17%
Avg. Volume (3M)1.35M822.69K

Risk-Adjusted Performance

Risk-Return Positioning

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HCA and MCK are plotted by 1-year volatility (risk) and 1-year return. The dashed Capital Allocation Line runs from the risk-free rate through the shared industry median.

Risk-Adjusted Metrics

Risk-adjusted metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)0.070.67
Sortino Ratio (1Y)0.111.15

Profitability

ROE (TTM)

Neither HCA Healthcare (HCA) nor McKesson (MCK) reports a ROE value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
HCA
--

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
47.61%
Q3
14.36%
Median
5.45%
Q1
-10.67%
Min
-47.01%
MCK
--
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): Neither stock reports ROE, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Net Margin (TTM)

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 8.61% and McKesson (MCK) at 1.12% keep about the typical share of revenue as profit for their industries — neither bottom line stands out from peers.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.61%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
HCA
8.61%
Median
2.18%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.12%

Max
29.35%
Q3
9.33%
Median
2.18%
MCK
1.12%
Q1
-6.29%
Min
-28.46%
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their net margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Operating Margin (TTM)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 14.83% operates in the top operating margin quartile, ahead of McKesson (MCK) at 1.48%, which runs around its industry’s norm.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

14.83%

Max
35.43%
HCA
14.83%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.48%

Max
35.43%
Q3
14.14%
Median
6.81%
MCK
1.48%
Q1
-0.28%
Min
-16.29%
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their operating margin against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Profitability Metrics

Profitability metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
ROE (TTM)----
ROA (TTM)12.23%4.72%
Net Margin (TTM)8.61%1.12%
Operating Margin (TTM)14.83%1.48%
Gross Margin (TTM)42.76%3.65%

Growth

Revenue Growth

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 7.08% and McKesson (MCK) at 12.36% land near their industries' usual revenue growth ranges, so top-line momentum looks broadly in line with peers on both sides.

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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their Revenue Growth across different time periods.

EPS Growth

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 28.77% and McKesson (MCK) at 49.22% sit in the top peer quartile for EPS growth, so each is compounding per-share earnings faster than typical industry peers.

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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their EPS Growth across different time periods.

Growth Metrics

Growth metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Revenue Growth (YoY)7.08%12.36%
Revenue Growth (3Y CAGR)7.87%13.39%
EPS Growth (YoY)28.77%49.22%
EPS Growth (3Y CAGR)13.94%15.31%

Financial Strength

Current Ratio (MRQ)

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 0.82 and McKesson (MCK) at 0.90 run current ratio in the tighter-liquidity quartile of industry peers, leaving thinner cushions against current liabilities than typical competitors.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.82

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
HCA
0.82
Min
0.30

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.90

Max
7.59
Q3
4.00
Median
1.98
Q1
1.37
MCK
0.90
Min
0.30
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their current ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Debt / Equity (MRQ)

Neither HCA Healthcare (HCA) nor McKesson (MCK) reports a debt-to-equity ratio value for this period, so a direct comparison isn’t possible.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
HCA
--

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

--

Max
1.88
Q3
0.91
Median
0.58
Q1
0.16
Min
0.00
MCK
--
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): Neither stock reports debt-to-equity ratio, so the chart shows available benchmark boxes without value markers.

Financial Strength Metrics

Financial strength metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Current Ratio (MRQ)0.820.90
Debt / Equity (MRQ)----
Net Debt / EBITDA3.260.64

Dividends

Dividend Yield (TTM)

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 0.60% and McKesson (MCK) at 0.32% yield above their industries’ entire benchmark ranges — high enough that dividend safety, not income, becomes the first question.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.60%

HCA
0.60%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.32%

MCK
0.32%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their dividend yield against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 10.15% and McKesson (MCK) at 8.77% pay out more of their earnings than any of their industry peers — the thinnest cover in their groups, so dividend headroom deserves attention.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

10.15%

HCA
10.15%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

8.77%

MCK
8.77%
Max
0.00%
Q3
0.00%
Median
0.00%
Q1
0.00%
Min
0.00%
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their payout ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Dividend Metrics

Dividend metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
Dividend Yield (TTM)0.60%0.32%
Dividend Payout Ratio (TTM)10.15%8.77%

Valuation

P/E Ratio (TTM)

HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 16.42 sits in the cheaper P/E ratio quartile, while McKesson (MCK) at 27.36 is closer to its industry’s usual earnings multiple — a discount for HCA, though growth and earnings durability still matter.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

16.42

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
Q1
21.19
HCA
16.42
Min
4.21

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

27.36

Max
80.41
Q3
47.62
Median
29.93
MCK
27.36
Q1
21.19
Min
4.21
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/E ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/S Ratio (TTM)

McKesson (MCK) at 0.29 sits in the cheaper P/S ratio quartile while HCA Healthcare (HCA) at 1.31 prices around its industry’s middle — MCK costs less per dollar of sales, though read it alongside growth and margins.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

1.31

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
HCA
1.31
Q1
1.10
Min
0.03

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

0.29

Max
8.80
Q3
4.32
Median
2.13
Q1
1.10
MCK
0.29
Min
0.03
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/S ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

P/B Ratio (MRQ)

Both HCA Healthcare (HCA) at -12.92 and McKesson (MCK) at -30.85 report negative P/B ratio values, meaning both companies have negative book equity — neither multiple is meaningful for valuation.

HCA

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-12.92

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
HCA
-12.92

MCK

Health Care Equipment & Services industry group

-30.85

Max
11.68
Q3
6.12
Median
3.00
Q1
1.73
Min
-1.31
MCK
-30.85
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HCA Healthcare (HCA) vs. McKesson (MCK): A comparison of their P/B ratio against the Health Care Equipment & Services industry group benchmark.

Valuation Metrics

Valuation metrics for HCA Healthcare (HCA) and McKesson (MCK)
MetricHCAMCK
P/E Ratio (TTM)16.4227.36
P/S Ratio (TTM)1.310.29
P/B Ratio (MRQ)-12.92-30.85
Free Cash Flow Yield (TTM)3.81%6.04%