Ardent Health (ARDT) vs HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 9, 2026.
Summary
HCA Healthcare (HCA) has outperformed Ardent Health (ARDT) over the past year, gaining 4.4% versus a loss of 24.5%. HCA Healthcare is the larger company by market cap ($96.54 billion vs $1.57 billion), about 61.5 times the size. On valuation, Ardent Health trades at a lower forward P/E (8.9x vs 13.9x for HCA Healthcare).
HCA Healthcare pays a dividend yielding 0.67%, while Ardent Health does not currently pay one. HCA Healthcare converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 9.0% versus 2.1%.
Summary generated from market data by MetaCap's automated system. Methodology
Relative performance
Percent change in share price from the first common trading day shown; excludes dividends.
Head-to-head
| Metric | ARDT | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $11.13 | $445.91 |
| Market cap | $1.57B | $96.54B |
| 1-day change | +0.54% | +0.20% |
| YTD return | +25.37% | -4.68% |
| 1-year return | -24.49% | +4.40% |
| 5-year return | — | +80.25% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 20.61 | 14.95 |
| Forward P/E | 8.87 | 13.93 |
| EPS (TTM) | $0.54 | $29.83 |
| Dividend yield | 0.00% | 0.67% |
| Annual dividend | $0.00 | $3.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $6.32B | $75.60B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | +6.01% | +7.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $135.81M | $6.78B |
| Net margin | 2.15% | 8.97% |
| 52-week high | $15.48 | $556.52 |
| 52-week low | $7.71 | $353.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -28.10% | -19.88% |
| Analyst consensus | buy | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.84% | +3.00% |
| Average volume | 446.62K | 1.47M |
| Shares outstanding | 141.05M | 216.50M |
| Employees | 19,500 | 230,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Hospital/Nursing Management | Hospital/Nursing Management |
Highlighted cells mark the higher value for growth, returns, margins and yield, and the lower value for P/E ratios. Highlighting is a mechanical comparison, not a recommendation.
Key differences
- HCA Healthcare is about 61.5 times larger than Ardent Health by market value ($96.54B vs $1.57B).
- HCA has outperformed ARDT by 28.9 percentage points over the past year.
- Ardent Health trades at a higher earnings multiple (20.6x vs 14.9x trailing P/E).
- HCA Healthcare is more profitable, keeping 9.0 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 2.1 cents for Ardent Health.
About Ardent Health
ARDT stock →Ardent Health, Inc. owns and operates a network of hospitals and clinics that provides healthcare services in the United States.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 19,500 employees
About HCA Healthcare
HCA stock →HCA Healthcare, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides health care services in the United States. The company owns, manages, and operates hospitals, ASCs, freestanding emergency care facilities, urgent care facilities, walk-in clinics, diagnostic and imaging centers, radiation and oncology therapy centers, as well as rehabilitation and physical therapy centers, physician practices, home health agencies, hospices, outpatient physical therapy providers, home and community-based services providers, and various other facilities.
Health Care · Hospital/Nursing Management · 230,000 employees
ARDT vs HCA FAQ
Which is bigger, Ardent Health or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $96.54B compared with $1.57B for Ardent Health (ARDT).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, ARDT or HCA?
HCA returned +4.40% over the past 12 months, compared with -24.49% for ARDT (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, ARDT or HCA?
HCA has the lower trailing P/E at 14.9, versus 20.6 for ARDT. A lower P/E is not by itself a sign of a better investment; it can reflect slower expected growth or higher risk.
Which pays a higher dividend, Ardent Health or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare pays a dividend yielding 0.67%, while Ardent Health does not currently pay a regular dividend.
Are Ardent Health and HCA Healthcare in the same industry?
Yes. Both are classified in the Hospital/Nursing Management industry within the Health Care sector.