HCA Healthcare (HCA) Stock Buyback History
TTM buyback yield 8.51% · Shareholder yield (TTM) 8.51%.
TTM buyback yield
8.51%
Shareholder yield (TTM)
8.51%
5Y share count change
-33.2%
TTM buyback spend
$9.13B
SBC coverage (TTM)
92.24x
YoY change in spend
+66.6%
5Y CAGR of spend
+86.9%
Peak year (2006)
$21.02B
Cumulative spend
$79.06B
TTM metrics calculated from the four most recent reported quarters, ending (reported ).
Key takeaways
- HCA Healthcare (HCA) repurchased about $9.13B of stock over the trailing twelve months.
- Diluted share count is down 33.2% over the last ~5 fiscal years — buybacks are net-shrinking the share base.
- TTM buyback ÷ stock-based-comp ratio of 92.24× — repurchases more than cover SBC dilution.
- Cash buyback spend has compounded at +86.9% per year over the latest 5-year window.
- TTM repurchases used about 126% of free cash flow remaining after dividends.
Buyback context per fiscal year
Annual repurchases alongside stock-based compensation, diluted share count and the year-over-year change — useful for SBC-coverage and dilution-offset reading at a glance.
| Year | Buybacks | SBC | Net | Shares (dil.) | YoY shares | Buyback yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10.07B | $0.00 | $10.07B | 0.23B | -11.9% | 9.35% |
| 2024 | $6.04B | $360.00M | $5.68B | 0.26B | -5.3% | 7.98% |
| 2023 | $3.81B | $262.00M | $3.55B | 0.28B | -6.2% | 5.30% |
| 2022 | $7.00B | $341.00M | $6.66B | 0.29B | -10.4% | 10.52% |
| 2021 | $8.21B | $440.00M | $7.78B | 0.33B | -4.8% | 10.47% |
| 2020 | $441.00M | $362.00M | $79.00M | 0.35B | -0.8% | 0.79% |
| 2019 | $1.03B | $347.00M | $684.00M | 0.35B | -2.0% | 2.06% |
| 2018 | $1.53B | $268.00M | $1.26B | 0.36B | -4.5% | 3.59% |
| 2017 | $2.05B | $270.00M | $1.78B | 0.37B | -6.0% | 6.67% |
| 2016 | $2.75B | $251.00M | $2.50B | 0.40B | -7.2% | 10.03% |
| 2015 | $2.40B | $239.00M | $2.16B | 0.43B | -5.2% | 8.89% |
| 2014 | $1.75B | $163.00M | $1.59B | 0.45B | -2.5% | 5.67% |
| 2013 | $500.00M | $113.00M | $387.00M | 0.46B | 0.5% | 2.38% |
| 2012 | $0.00 | $56.00M | −$56.00M | 0.46B | -7.4% | — |
| 2011 | $1.50B | $26.00M | $1.48B | 0.50B | 13.4% | 15.62% |
| 2010 | $0.00 | $32.00M | −$32.00M | 0.44B | 25.4% | — |
| 2009 | $0.00 | $40.00M | −$40.00M | 0.35B | 0.0% | — |
| 2008 | $0.00 | $32.00M | −$32.00M | 0.35B | 0.0% | — |
| 2007 | $0.00 | $24.00M | −$24.00M | 0.35B | -15.0% | — |
| 2006 | $21.02B | $324.00M | $20.69B | 0.41B | -8.3% | 158.80% |
| 2005 | $1.86B | $0.00 | $1.86B | 0.45B | -7.5% | 14.79% |
| 2004 | $3.11B | $0.00 | $3.11B | 0.48B | -5.2% | 23.44% |
| 2003 | $1.11B | $0.00 | $1.11B | 0.51B | -2.6% | 7.36% |
| 2002 | $282.00M | $0.00 | $282.00M | 0.52B | -2.4% | 1.79% |
| 2001 | $1.51B | $0.00 | $1.51B | 0.54B | -3.1% | 9.55% |
| 2000 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.55B | -16.9% | — |
| 1999 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.67B | 3.3% | — |
| 1998 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.65B | -2.7% | — |
| 1997 | $1.08B | $0.00 | $1.08B | 0.66B | -2.2% | — |
| 1996 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | 0.68B | — | — |
| 1995 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1994 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1993 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1992 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1991 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
| 1990 | $0.00 | $0.00 | $0.00 | — | — | — |
Cash buyback spend (USD) — annual & quarterly history
Trailing-twelve-month and per-period cash repurchases for HCA Healthcare (HCA) from the consolidated cash flow statement (line: common stock repurchased), in USD as filed.
Cash buyback spend over time for HCA Healthcare (HCA)
Per-period cash repurchases
Cash buyback spend annual + quarterly history for HCA Healthcare (HCA)
| Fiscal year | Period ended | Reported | Buyback Spend | YoY | YoY change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $10.07B | +66.6% | +$4.03B | ||
| 2024 | $6.04B | +58.5% | +$2.23B | ||
| 2023 | $3.81B | -45.6% | -$3.19B | ||
| 2022 | $7.00B | -14.8% | -$1.22B | ||
| 2021 | $8.21B | +1762.8% | +$7.77B | ||
| 2020 | $441.00M | -57.2% | -$590.00M | ||
| 2019 | $1.03B | -32.6% | -$499.00M | ||
| 2018 | $1.53B | -25.4% | -$521.00M | ||
| 2017 | $2.05B | -25.4% | -$700.00M | ||
| 2016 | $2.75B | +14.8% | +$354.00M | ||
| 2015 | $2.40B | +37.0% | +$647.00M | ||
| 2014 | $1.75B | +250.0% | +$1.25B | ||
| 2013 | $500.00M | — | +$500.00M | ||
| 2012 | $0 | -100.0% | -$1.50B | ||
| 2011 | $1.50B | — | +$1.50B | ||
| 2010 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2009 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2008 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 2007 | $0 | -100.0% | -$21.02B | ||
| 2006 | $21.02B | +1032.4% | +$19.16B | ||
| 2005 | $1.86B | -40.3% | -$1.25B | ||
| 2004 | $3.11B | +179.1% | +$2.00B | ||
| 2003 | $1.11B | +295.0% | +$832.00M | ||
| 2002 | $282.00M | -81.3% | -$1.22B | ||
| 2001 | $1.51B | — | +$1.51B | ||
| 2000 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1999 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1998 | $0 | -100.0% | -$1.08B | ||
| 1997 | $1.08B | — | +$1.08B | ||
| 1996 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1995 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1994 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1993 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1992 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1991 | $0 | — | $0 | ||
| 1990 | $0 | — | — |
As of the 2025 fiscal year, HCA Healthcare (HCA) reported buyback spend of $10.07B – surged 66.6% year-over-year.
Over 2020–2025 (5 years), HCA Healthcare buyback spend expanded at a +86.9% compound annual rate, sustaining 2 straight years of year-over-year growth.
Between 2006 and 2025, HCA Healthcare buyback spend plunged 52.1%, falling from $21.02B to $10.07B.
2006 marks the peak buyback spend at $21.02B, with the historical low of $0 recorded in 1990.
HCA Healthcare (HCA) sits 1st of 8 Healthcare peers we track on this metric, against a peer median of $2.75B.
HCA Healthcare Buyback Spend 2025: $10.07B
HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2025 was $10.07B, surged 66.6% from 2024.
HCA Healthcare Buyback Spend 2024: $6.04B
HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2024 was $6.04B, surged 58.5% from 2023.
HCA Healthcare Buyback Spend 2023: $3.81B
HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2023 was $3.81B, plunged 45.6% below 2022.
HCA Healthcare Buyback Spend 2022: $7.00B
HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2022 was $7.00B, declined 14.8% below 2021.
HCA Healthcare Buyback Spend 2021: $8.21B
HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2021 was $8.21B.
See more financial history for HCA Healthcare (HCA).
Sector peers by buyback spend
Companies in the same sector as HCA Healthcare, ranked by their latest buyback spend.
| Company | Buyback Spend | Sector |
|---|---|---|
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | $5.95B | Healthcare |
| UnitedHealth Group (UNH) | $5.54B | Healthcare |
| Merck & Co. (MRK) | $5.08B | Healthcare |
| Eli Lilly (LLY) | $4.11B | Healthcare |
| Novo Nordisk (NVO) | $1.39B | Healthcare |
| AbbVie (ABBV) | $980.00M | Healthcare |
| AstraZeneca (AZN) | $719.66M | Healthcare |
| Amgen (AMGN) | $0 | Healthcare |
Share count history
Diluted weighted-average shares drive the EPS denominator and per-share capital-return maths. A falling diluted share count means buybacks are outpacing dilution from stock-based compensation and option exercises.
Diluted vs basic shares (annual)
Year-over-year change in diluted shares
Green is fewer shares vs the prior fiscal year (net repurchase); red is growth (dilution). The earliest year shown has no prior year to compare.
Dividend & buyback yield over time
Stacked annual yields — buyback yield (TTM cash repurchases ÷ market cap) plus dividend yield from the same fiscal-year-end key-metrics period — show how total cash return per dollar of equity has evolved.
Buybacks vs stock-based compensation
Annual cash repurchases set against stock-based compensation. Coverage above 1× means buybacks fully offset the equity dilution from SBC. TTM coverage: 92.24×.
Capital allocation mix
How HCA Healthcare splits cash returned to shareholders between dividends and buybacks, plus the headroom on free cash flow that's still available for additional repurchases.
Buybacks vs dividends (share of cash returned)
Buyback capacity (TTM)
Free cash flow minus dividends paid versus actual TTM repurchases — the headroom bar shows how much of post-dividend FCF is still being deployed elsewhere.
Headroom $7.25B (TTM FCF − TTM dividends, clamped at zero).
Data & methodology
Where do buyback, dividend and compensation figures come from?
Cash buyback spend (common stock repurchased), dividends paid and stock-based compensation come from HCA Healthcare's consolidated cash flow statements — quarterly 10-Q and annual 10-K SEC filings, in USD as reported.
How are diluted shares and yields calculated?
Diluted weighted-average share counts come from the income statement (EPS denominator). Trailing twelve-month (TTM) aggregates sum the four most recent reported quarters. Buyback and dividend yields divide TTM cash flows by market capitalisation at the latest quarter-end.
How is buyback capacity defined?
Capacity compares TTM repurchases to free cash flow after dividends: operating cash flow minus capital expenditure, minus dividends paid, versus actual buybacks over the same trailing window.
Is this investment advice?
No. Figures are for informational and educational use only. Past buybacks and dividends do not predict future returns.
Frequently asked questions
Does HCA Healthcare buy back its own stock?
Yes, HCA Healthcare (HCA) has repurchased shares in recent periods. See the history table and charts on this page for amounts and trends.
How much does HCA Healthcare spend on share buybacks?
Trailing twelve months (TTM) buyback spend is about $9.13B (sum of the last four quarterly cash-flow periods in our data). Figures are illustrative; verify in filings.
What is HCA Healthcare's buyback yield?
TTM buyback yield is about 8.51% (TTM buyback spend divided by market cap at the latest quarter-end in our data).
What is HCA Healthcare's shareholder yield?
Shareholder yield combines dividend yield and buyback yield. For the latest period we show approximately 8.51% combined (TTM-based where available).
Is HCA Healthcare diluting shareholders?
Compare stock-based compensation (SBC) to buybacks in the chart above. Net effect varies by year; see annual buyback vs SBC bars and the history table.
How has HCA Healthcare's share count changed?
Diluted weighted average shares changed by about -33.2% over roughly five fiscal years (annual income statement data).
What is HCA Healthcare's buyback spend?
Latest reported buyback spend for HCA Healthcare (HCA) is $9.13B (period ending March 31, 2026).
How has HCA Healthcare buyback spend changed year-over-year?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) buyback spend changed +66.6% year-over-year on the latest annual filing.
What is the long-term growth rate of HCA Healthcare buyback spend?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) buyback spend compound annual growth rate is +86.9% over the most recent 5 years available.
When did HCA Healthcare buyback spend hit its highest annual value?
HCA Healthcare buyback spend reached its highest annual value of $21.02B in 2006.
What was HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2024?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) buyback spend in 2024 was $6.04B.
What was HCA Healthcare buyback spend in 2025?
HCA Healthcare (HCA) buyback spend in 2025 was $10.07B.
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