HCA Healthcare (HCA) Dividend Capture: 0.15% per event (0.7% annualized)
HCA Healthcare (HCA) has touched its pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of the last 20 ex-dividend events, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day (limit-order recovery basis). The dividend is below the typical daily price swing (signal-to-noise 0.09), meaning ordinary day-to-day noise can easily exceed the dividend itself.
Versus its sector, HCA sits roughly in line with the Healthcare sector benchmark of 100%. The sector median time-to-touch is 1 trading day, matching the peer pace.
Historical base rates are not predictions; transaction costs, slippage, and ordinary-income tax on short holding periods can materially reduce realized profit. The next confirmed ex-dividend date is Jun 16, 2026, with an expected dividend of $0.78.
- Touch rate (30d)
- 100%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise
- 0.09-0.06 vs sector
Recovery engine
TL;DR over the most recent 20 events.
- 30-day touch rate
- 100%in line with sector
- Median days-to-touch
- 1din line with sector
- Signal-to-noise (div / ATR)
- 0.09-0.06 vs sector
- Avg gap on ex-date
- -0.08%+0.26pp vs sector
- Win rate at MOC exit
- 60%
- Median drawdown during hold
- -3.58%+0.80pp vs sector
- Best / worst touch (days)
- 1 / 15
Next ex-dividend
Confirmed by company declaration.
- Dividend
- $0.78
- Per-event yield
- 0.15%
- Annualized yield
- 0.70%
- Previously paid
- Mar 17, 2026 ($0.78)
- Last record date
- Mar 17, 2026
- Last payment date
- Mar 31, 2026
How HCA ranks in Healthcare
Compared with other stocks in this sector that pass our capture-quality filter (40 tickers). Lower rank number is better on every metric below.
- 30-day touch rate#1of 40
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Median days to touch#1of 40
Beats ~98% of peers on this metric
- Signal-to-noise#29of 40
Beats ~28% of peers on this metric
HCA Dividend Capture History — Last 20 Ex-Dividend Events
Per-event gap on ex-date, the pre-ex close used as the touch target, trading days to first intraday high at or above that level, plus 5/30-day touch flags, drawdown and 5-day P&L for HCA Healthcare (HCA). For a stricter close-at-bell exit timeline, use the simulator below (MOC mode). td = trading days from ex-date.
| Recovered 5d | Recovered 30d | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q1 | $0.78 | 0.00% | $525.19 | 1 | yes | yes | -11.02% | -7.37% | |
| Q4 | $0.72 | -2.03% | $484.77 | 15 | no | yes | -4.90% | -2.48% | |
| Q3 | $0.72 | 0.14% | $403.17 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.24% | +1.74% | |
| Q2 | $0.72 | 0.12% | $371.18 | 1 | yes | yes | -5.51% | +2.31% | |
| Q1 | $0.72 | -0.41% | $319.39 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.97% | +4.75% | |
| Q4 | $0.66 | 0.00% | $311.99 | 1 | yes | yes | -4.92% | -2.47% | |
| Q3 | $0.66 | 0.59% | $394.68 | 1 | yes | yes | 0.13% | +2.96% | |
| Q2 | $0.66 | -0.94% | $340.90 | 3 | yes | yes | -6.32% | +0.33% | |
| Q1 | $0.66 | -0.05% | $321.90 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.93% | +2.36% | |
| Q4 | $0.60 | -0.00% | $263.00 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.64% | +0.41% | |
| Q3 | $0.60 | 0.56% | $262.49 | 1 | yes | yes | -7.20% | -3.22% | |
| Q2 | $0.60 | -0.44% | $284.20 | 1 | yes | yes | -0.85% | +4.15% | |
| Q1 | $0.60 | -1.12% | $247.47 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.12% | +2.38% | |
| Q4 | $0.56 | 2.58% | $242.73 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.58% | -1.57% | |
| Q3 | $0.56 | -0.29% | $208.76 | 1 | yes | yes | -11.96% | -6.77% | |
| Q2 | $0.56 | -0.02% | $179.28 | 1 | yes | yes | -5.66% | -0.71% | |
| Q1 | $0.56 | 0.31% | $267.17 | 1 | yes | yes | -4.20% | -2.25% | |
| Q4 | $0.48 | -0.18% | $243.55 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.35% | +1.05% | |
| Q3 | $0.48 | -0.25% | $254.67 | 1 | yes | yes | -1.34% | +1.59% | |
| Q2 | $0.48 | -0.08% | $207.86 | 1 | yes | yes | -3.58% | +1.18% |
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.78
- Gap %
- 0.00%
- Pre-ex close
- $525.19
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -11.02%
- P&L 5d %
- -7.37%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.72
- Gap %
- -2.03%
- Pre-ex close
- $484.77
- High touch (td)
- 15
- Recovered 5d
- no
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.90%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.48%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.72
- Gap %
- 0.14%
- Pre-ex close
- $403.17
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.24%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.74%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.72
- Gap %
- 0.12%
- Pre-ex close
- $371.18
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -5.51%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.31%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.72
- Gap %
- -0.41%
- Pre-ex close
- $319.39
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.97%
- P&L 5d %
- +4.75%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.66
- Gap %
- 0.00%
- Pre-ex close
- $311.99
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.92%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.47%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.66
- Gap %
- 0.59%
- Pre-ex close
- $394.68
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- 0.13%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.96%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.66
- Gap %
- -0.94%
- Pre-ex close
- $340.90
- High touch (td)
- 3
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -6.32%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.33%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.66
- Gap %
- -0.05%
- Pre-ex close
- $321.90
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.93%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.36%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.60
- Gap %
- -0.00%
- Pre-ex close
- $263.00
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.64%
- P&L 5d %
- +0.41%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.60
- Gap %
- 0.56%
- Pre-ex close
- $262.49
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -7.20%
- P&L 5d %
- -3.22%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.60
- Gap %
- -0.44%
- Pre-ex close
- $284.20
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -0.85%
- P&L 5d %
- +4.15%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.60
- Gap %
- -1.12%
- Pre-ex close
- $247.47
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.12%
- P&L 5d %
- +2.38%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.56
- Gap %
- 2.58%
- Pre-ex close
- $242.73
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.58%
- P&L 5d %
- -1.57%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.56
- Gap %
- -0.29%
- Pre-ex close
- $208.76
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -11.96%
- P&L 5d %
- -6.77%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.56
- Gap %
- -0.02%
- Pre-ex close
- $179.28
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -5.66%
- P&L 5d %
- -0.71%
Q1
- Dividend
- $0.56
- Gap %
- 0.31%
- Pre-ex close
- $267.17
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -4.20%
- P&L 5d %
- -2.25%
Q4
- Dividend
- $0.48
- Gap %
- -0.18%
- Pre-ex close
- $243.55
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.35%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.05%
Q3
- Dividend
- $0.48
- Gap %
- -0.25%
- Pre-ex close
- $254.67
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -1.34%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.59%
Q2
- Dividend
- $0.48
- Gap %
- -0.08%
- Pre-ex close
- $207.86
- High touch (td)
- 1
- Recovered 5d
- yes
- Recovered 30d
- yes
- Drawdown
- -3.58%
- P&L 5d %
- +1.18%
HCA Pre-Ex Touch Time Distribution
- ≤ 1 day1890%
- 2–3 days15%
- 4–5 days00%
- 6–10 days00%
- 11–30 days15%
- 30+00%
90% within 1d · 95% within 5d · 100% within 30d
HCA Dividend Capture Calculator — After-Tax Yield
Pre-filled with HCA's next expected dividend and recent close. Adjust tax rate, holding period and slippage to estimate after-tax capture yield.
Holding shorter than the IRS 61-day rule disqualifies the dividend from “qualified” status — it is taxed as ordinary income at your marginal rate. Adjust Tax % accordingly.
- Gross dividend
- $156.00
- After-tax dividend
- $101.40
- Slippage round-trip
- -$105.04
- Net if price returns to pre-ex
- $-3.64
- Required recovery to break even
- 0.00%
- Per-event after-tax yield
- -0.00%
- Annual if all succeed
- ~-0.2%
HCA Dividend Capture Backtest Simulator
Replay every historical HCA ex-dividend with two exit strategies: a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close (limit-order P&L on first intraday touch), or hold for N days and exit at MOC. Pick the window and quarter filter that matches your plan and see realized P&L per event.
Sell back at the pre-ex close on the first intraday touch within the window. If it never touches, exit at MOC after the window expires (stop-loss).
Figures are gross — before tax, commissions, and slippage. Percents are per-event return on capital at entry (pre-ex close).
Cumulative P&L (equity curve)
Vertical axis: cumulative sum of per-event % (same units as the headline cumulative). Hover dots for exact values.
Per-event P&L distribution
20 trades in this sample · bar height ∝ count in each bucket (gross % per event).
Scenario P&L by event · HCA (20)
Scenario P&L — updates with exit mode, window, and quarter. History adds gap, touch, drawdown, and a fixed P&L 5d % (MOC). Same per-row % as that column only for MOC + 5d on the same rows. Oldest → newest, gross pre-ex close basis.
| Ex-date | P&L |
|---|---|
| +0.23% | |
| +0.19% | |
| +0.20% | |
| +0.21% | |
| +0.31% | |
| +0.27% | |
| +0.23% | |
| +0.24% | |
| +0.21% | |
| +0.23% | |
| +0.23% | |
| +0.21% | |
| +0.19% | |
| +0.17% | |
| +0.21% | |
| +0.23% | |
| +0.19% | |
| +0.18% | |
| -2.48% | |
| +0.15% |
Looking for full price seasonality? See HCA seasonality →
Frequently asked questions
What is the dividend capture success rate for HCA?
Across the last 20 ex-dividend events for HCA Healthcare (HCA), the post-ex intraday high reached the pre-ex close within 30 trading days in 100% of cases, with a median time-to-touch of 1 trading day. We measure recovery via intraday high because that is when a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close would actually fill, ending the trade at break-even with the dividend pocketed.
How long does it take HCA to recover its dividend gap?
Historically, HCA touches its pre-ex close in a median of 1 trading day, with the best case at 1 and the worst case at 15 trading days within our 30-day measurement window. A stricter close-based recovery (mark-to-MOC) is also computed in the database; explore it with the per-ticker simulator’s “Hold N days, exit MOC” mode rather than in the event table.
Is the dividend on HCA large enough to capture?
HCA has a signal-to-noise ratio of 0.09 (dividend / 14-day ATR). Values above 1.0 indicate the dividend is larger than the typical daily price swing, making capture trades more viable; below 0.5 means typical daily noise can easily wipe out the gain.
When is the next ex-dividend date for HCA?
The next ex-dividend date for HCA Healthcare (HCA) is Jun 16, 2026, confirmed (declared by the company).
How does HCA compare to its sector for dividend capture?
Within Healthcare, the median 30-day pre-ex touch rate is 100%. HCA sits at 100% — at or below the sector benchmark.
Why does HCA dividend capture measure recovery via intraday high, not close?
A realistic capture trade exits via a GTC limit-order at the pre-ex close: the moment the post-ex intraday high touches that level, the order fills and the trader pockets the dividend at break-even. Measuring recovery via close is stricter (mark-to-MOC); we expose that path in the per-ticker simulator as the "Hold N days, exit MOC" mode. The high-based primary metric directly answers the trader-facing question "would my limit have filled?" — close-based answers "would I have been flat at the bell?".
How are dividend capture trades taxed in the US?
Holding period matters. Dividends are "qualified" (taxed at the long-term capital gains rate, 0/15/20%) only when the underlying shares are held for more than 60 days during the 121-day window centered on the ex-dividend date. Dividend capture trades typically hold less than 61 days, so the dividend is taxed at your ordinary income bracket. Always consult a qualified tax advisor.
What are the main risks of a dividend capture strategy?
Three structural risks: (1) the share price may not recover the gap within your holding window; (2) ordinary-income tax can consume the after-tax yield; (3) transaction costs and bid/ask slippage can wipe out small dividends. Historical statistics measure base rates; they do not guarantee any single trade will work.