Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) vs HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Head-to-head comparison of performance, valuation, growth, profitability and dividends. Prices delayed 15 minutes; data as of Oct 7, 2026.
Summary
HCA Healthcare (HCA) has outperformed Fresenius Medical Care (FMS) over the past year, gaining 0.4% versus a loss of 22.9%. Over five years, HCA leads with a +77.9% price change compared with -41.7% for FMS. HCA Healthcare is the larger company by market cap ($95.08 billion vs $11.01 billion), about 8.6 times the size.
On valuation, Fresenius Medical Care trades at a lower forward P/E (6.9x vs 13.7x for HCA Healthcare). Fresenius Medical Care offers the higher dividend yield (7.20% vs 0.68%). Fresenius Medical Care converts more of its revenue into profit, with a net margin of 22.3% versus 9.0%.
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 | FMS | HCA |
|---|---|---|
| Share price | $20.69 | $439.17 |
| Market cap | $11.01B | $95.08B |
| 1-day change | -7.72% | +1.61% |
| YTD return | -13.14% | -5.93% |
| 1-year return | -22.86% | +0.37% |
| 5-year return | -41.65% | +77.89% |
| P/E ratio (TTM) | 10.66 | 14.72 |
| Forward P/E | 6.92 | 13.72 |
| EPS (TTM) | $1.94 | $29.83 |
| Dividend yield | 7.20% | 0.68% |
| Annual dividend | $1.49 | $3.00 |
| Revenue (latest FY) | $4.97B | $75.60B |
| Revenue growth (YoY) | -63.98% | +7.08% |
| Net income (latest FY) | $1.11B | $6.78B |
| Gross margin | 95.33% | — |
| Operating margin | 45.39% | — |
| Net margin | 22.33% | 8.97% |
| 52-week high | $27.64 | $556.52 |
| 52-week low | $20.02 | $353.99 |
| Distance from 52-week high | -25.14% | -21.09% |
| Analyst consensus | hold | buy |
| Avg. price target upside | +13.24% | +4.58% |
| Average volume | 696.44K | 1.48M |
| Shares outstanding | 532.22M | 216.50M |
| Employees | 107,226 | 230,000 |
| Sector | Health Care | Health Care |
| Industry | Misc Health and Biotechnology Services | 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 8.6 times larger than Fresenius Medical Care by market value ($95.08B vs $11.01B).
- HCA has outperformed FMS by 23.2 percentage points over the past year.
- HCA Healthcare trades at a higher earnings multiple (14.7x vs 10.7x trailing P/E).
- Fresenius Medical Care offers a meaningfully higher dividend yield (7.20% vs 0.68%).
- Fresenius Medical Care is more profitable, keeping 22.3 cents of every revenue dollar as net income versus 9.0 cents for HCA Healthcare.
- HCA Healthcare grew revenue faster in its latest fiscal year (+7.08% vs -63.98%).
About Fresenius Medical Care
FMS stock →Fresenius Medical Care AG provides dialysis and related services for individuals with renal diseases in Germany, the United States, and internationally. The company offers dialysis treatment and related laboratory and diagnostic services through a network of outpatient dialysis clinics; materials, training, and patient support services comprising clinical monitoring, follow-up assistance, and arranging for delivery of the supplies to the patient's residence; and dialysis services under contract to hospitals in the United States for the hospitalized end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients and for patients suffering from acute kidney failure.
Health Care · Misc Health and Biotechnology Services · 107,226 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
FMS vs HCA FAQ
Which is bigger, Fresenius Medical Care or HCA Healthcare?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) is larger, with a market capitalization of $95.08B compared with $11.01B for Fresenius Medical Care (FMS).
Which stock has performed better over the past year, FMS or HCA?
HCA returned +0.37% over the past 12 months, compared with -22.86% for FMS (price return, excluding dividends). Past performance does not predict future results.
Which has the lower P/E ratio, FMS or HCA?
FMS has the lower trailing P/E at 10.7, versus 14.7 for HCA. 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, Fresenius Medical Care or HCA Healthcare?
Fresenius Medical Care has the higher yield at 7.20%, compared with 0.68% for HCA Healthcare.
Are Fresenius Medical Care and HCA Healthcare in the same industry?
Both are in the Health Care sector, but in different industries: Misc Health and Biotechnology Services for Fresenius Medical Care and Hospital/Nursing Management for HCA Healthcare.