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Compare Stocks › HCA vs MA

HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) vs Mastercard Incorporated (MA)

HCA
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
$433.09
VS
MA
Mastercard Incorporated
$495.46

Rewards

HCA
  • ★HCA Healthcare, Inc. has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★HCA Healthcare, Inc. scores 95/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.
  • ★Free cash flow has grown at a 23.1% CAGR over the past 4 years, demonstrating strong earnings power growth.
MA
  • ★Mastercard Incorporated has maintained ROIC above 15% for 4 consecutive years, indicating a durable competitive advantage.
  • ★Gross margin of 100.0% indicates strong pricing power — typical of businesses with significant intellectual property or brand strength.
  • ★Mastercard Incorporated scores 99/100 on the Economic Moat Score (Wide Moat), with roic consistency as the strongest competitive dimension.

Risks

HCA
    MA
    • ⚠High leverage (2.82x debt/equity) combined with thin interest coverage (-1.0x) poses financial risk.
    • ⚠Insiders have sold $4.5M worth of stock in the past 3 months — significant insider liquidation.

    Key Valuation Metrics

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    HCA
    MA
    Valuation
    $7.69B
    Free Cash Flow
    $16.15B
    8.01%
    FCF Yield
    3.69%
    14.92
    Trailing P/E
    28.66
    13.07
    Forward P/E
    21.78
    Quality & Moat
    18.14%
    ROIC
    63.51%
    N/A
    ROE
    222.67%
    41.61%
    Gross Margin
    100.00%
    1.37
    PEG Ratio
    1.35
    Balance Sheet Safety
    N/A
    Debt / Equity
    2.82
    N/A
    Interest Coverage
    N/A
    3.13
    Net Debt / EBITDA
    0.50
    0.72%
    Dividend Yield
    0.70%
    HCA: 3Ties: 3MA: 4
    HCAMA

    Historical Fundamentals

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    HCA

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    MA

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    Price ÷ Earnings Per Share — how many years of current earnings you're paying for at today's price. Lower P/E may indicate undervaluation.

    $1 Retained Earnings Test

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    HCA
    $2.43
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Exceptional Value Creator
    Σ Retained
    $15.76B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$38.30B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer
    MA
    $5.61
    created per $1 retained over 3 years
    Exceptional Value Creator
    Σ Retained
    $31.68B
    Δ Market Cap
    +$177.79B
    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Buffett's "$1 Test": For every $1 of earnings retained, has management created at least $1 of market value?
    > $1 created per $1 retained = Value Creator · < $1 created = Value Destroyer

    Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) Analysis

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    HCA
    16.7% Margin of Safety
    Price is 16.7% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $433.09
    Fair Value: $519.95
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued
    MA
    13.1% Margin of Safety
    Price is 13.1% below estimated fair value
    Current Price: $495.46
    Fair Value: $570.42
    Strongly undervalued
    Undervalued
    Fairly valued
    Overvalued
    Strongly overvalued

    Reverse DCF — Market-Implied Growth

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    HCA

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $433?

    +8.6%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +6.9%

    The market implies +8.6% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

    Standard FCF implies +6.9%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

    MA

    What growth rate is the market pricing in at $495?

    +13.2%
    Market-Implied Owner Earnings Growth
    Standard FCF implies +12.2%

    The market implies +13.2% Owner Earnings growth, roughly in line with history — reasonably priced.

    Standard FCF implies +12.2%, reflecting ongoing growth investment.

    Economic Moat Score

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    HCA
    95/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 5 years of fundamental data.
    MA
    99/100
    Wide Moat
    70+ Wide · 40-69 Narrow · <40 None

    Wide moat with strength across all dimensions. ROIC Consistency is the standout factor.

    Composite score measuring competitive advantage durability across four dimensions: returns above cost of capital, pricing power stability, revenue predictability, and capital efficiency. Based on 4 years of fundamental data.

    Forensic Accounting

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    HCA
    -2.78
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.
    MA
    -2.53
    Unlikely Manipulator
    Above -1.78 = likely manipulator · -2.22 to -1.78 = grey zone

    M-Score Trend

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Beneish's 8-variable model estimates the probability of earnings manipulation. An M-Score above -1.78 signals elevated risk — companies in this range have historically been 3-5× more likely to be manipulating earnings. Scores between -2.22 and -1.78 fall in a grey zone warranting further investigation.

    Ownership Breakdown

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    HCA
    Insiders 16.3%Institutions 78.9%Retail & Other 4.8%
    No. of Institutional Holders1,918
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.
    MA
    Insiders 0.6%Institutions 91.3%Retail & Other 8.1%
    No. of Institutional Holders4,775
    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders — a key signal in Buffett-style analysis. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    High insider ownership aligns management incentives with shareholders. Institutional concentration can indicate smart-money conviction but also crowding risk.

    Insider Buying Activity

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    HCA
    0
    Buys (3M)
    0
    Buys (12M)
    No open market insider purchases found.
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises
    MA
    0
    Buys (3M)
    0
    Buys (12M)
    No open market insider purchases found.
    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises

    Open market purchases · includes direct & indirect ownership · excludes option exercises.

    Insider Selling Activity

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    HCA
    0
    Sells (3M)
    0
    Sells (12M)
    No open market insider sales found.
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives
    MA
    1
    Sells (3M)
    18
    Sells (12M)
    Total value (12M): $55.77M
    LING HAI
    Officer
    $4.48M
    @ $499.20 · 2026-02-24
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $10.20M
    @ $591.00 · 2025-09-02
    LING HAI
    Officer
    $2.69M
    @ $600.00 · 2025-08-22
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $10.46M
    @ $586.89 · 2025-08-19
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $3.83M
    @ $566.46 · 2025-08-05
    GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
    Director
    $178,049
    @ $570.67 · 2025-07-07
    KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
    Officer
    $536,480
    @ $560.00 · 2025-06-30
    SESHADRI RAJEEV
    Officer
    $601,447
    @ $546.77 · 2025-06-27
    KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
    Officer
    $536,480
    @ $560.00 · 2025-06-24
    GENACHOWSKI JULIUS
    Director
    $173,910
    @ $561.00 · 2025-06-24
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $5.02M
    @ $532.97 · 2025-06-20
    SESHADRI RAJEEV
    Officer
    $508,474
    @ $535.80 · 2025-06-20
    SESHADRI RAJEEV
    Officer
    $1.76M
    @ $561.78 · 2025-06-16
    KIRKPATRICK LINDA PISTECCHIA
    Officer
    $549,373
    @ $572.86 · 2025-06-13
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $5.55M
    @ $588.18 · 2025-06-12
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $8.22M
    @ $585.05 · 2025-06-05
    ARKELL SANDRA A
    Officer
    $218,223
    @ $577.31 · 2025-05-15
    ARKELL SANDRA A
    Officer
    $257,535
    @ $572.30 · 2025-05-12
    MIEBACH MICHAEL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $8.68M
    @ $550.16 · 2025-03-26
    MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
    Officer
    $3.81M
    @ $534.68 · 2025-03-19
    MIEBACH MICHAEL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $9.78M
    @ $553.76 · 2025-03-05
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $6.12M
    @ $556.14 · 2025-03-05
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $6.19M
    @ $562.72 · 2025-02-26
    MIEBACH MICHAEL
    Chief Executive Officer
    $10.17M
    @ $564.95 · 2025-02-18
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $7.97M
    @ $565.00 · 2025-02-18
    MCLAUGHLIN EDWARD GRUNDE
    Officer
    $6.18M
    @ $564.99 · 2025-02-18
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $2.36M
    @ $500.44 · 2024-11-01
    MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
    Officer
    $2.30M
    @ $491.03 · 2024-09-27
    MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
    Officer
    $2.29M
    @ $489.86 · 2024-09-20
    ARKELL SANDRA A
    Officer
    $550,000
    @ $500.00 · 2024-09-17
    MADABHUSHI VENKATA RAJAMANNAR
    Officer
    $2.31M
    @ $493.10 · 2024-09-13
    ARKELL SANDRA A
    Officer
    $528,000
    @ $480.00 · 2024-08-29
    MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $42.19M
    @ $468.80 · 2024-08-22
    MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $42.03M
    @ $467.02 · 2024-08-21
    LING HAI
    Officer
    $1.36M
    @ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $3.16M
    @ $470.00 · 2024-08-16
    SACHIN J. MEHRA
    Chief Financial Officer
    $6.11M
    @ $455.00 · 2024-08-05
    LING HAI
    Officer
    $1.35M
    @ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
    ARKELL SANDRA A
    Officer
    $512,006
    @ $465.46 · 2024-08-01
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $4.07M
    @ $451.06 · 2024-06-20
    MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $47.72M
    @ $445.98 · 2024-06-17
    MURPHY TIMOTHY H
    Officer
    $2.34M
    @ $446.24 · 2024-06-17
    MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $49.51M
    @ $442.03 · 2024-06-13
    SESHADRI RAJEEV
    Officer
    $3.11M
    @ $449.66 · 2024-06-12
    MASTERCARD FOUNDATION ASSET MANAGEMENT CORPORATION
    Beneficial Owner of more than 10% of a Class of Security
    $50.61M
    @ $447.85 · 2024-06-10
    VOSBURG CRAIG
    Officer
    $4.04M
    @ $447.28 · 2024-06-05
    SESHADRI RAJEEV
    Officer
    $3.71M
    @ $443.93 · 2024-06-05
    MURPHY TIMOTHY H
    Officer
    $2.31M
    @ $441.57 · 2024-06-03
    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives

    Direct ownership only · excludes indirect, option exercises, planned (10b5-1) sales & derivatives.

    🎭 Mr. Market's Mood

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    HCA
    FearGreed
    😨Fear(40/100)

    "Market is pessimistic — investigate whether fears are temporary or structural"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.
    MA
    FearGreed
    😐Neutral(45/100)

    "Market is pricing this stock without strong emotion in either direction"

    Composite sentiment score based on 6 market signals. Inspired by Buffett's "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    Composite sentiment score based on market signals. Inspired by Buffett’s "Mr. Market" allegory — fear = potential opportunity, greed = potential risk. Must be used alongside fundamental analysis, not in isolation.

    ⚖️ Buffett Signal

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    HCA
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Fear (40)
    MA
    ⚪Awaiting DCF Data

    The Buffett Signal cross-references market sentiment with DCF valuation. Configure the DCF Analysis above to generate a signal.

    DCF Margin of Safety: N/AMr. Market's Mood: Neutral (45)
    View HCA Full AnalysisView MA Full Analysis
    HCA vs MA: Which Is the Better Buy? | SafetyMargin.io