Comprehensive Stock Comparison
Compare HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) vs Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO) Stock
Analyze side-by-side fundamentals, valuation, growth, and profitability to decide which stock is the better buy.
Selected Stocks
Add up to 10 tickers. Use presets or search to get started.
Quick Verdict
| Category | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Growth | AGIO | 48.0% revenue growth vs HCA's 7.1% |
| Quality / Margins | HCA | 9.0% net margin vs AGIO's -9.0% |
| Stability / Safety | HCA | Beta 0.29 vs AGIO's 0.91 |
| Dividends | HCA | 0.6% yield; 5-year raise streak; AGIO pays no meaningful dividend |
| Momentum (1Y) | HCA | +73.9% vs AGIO's -14.9% |
| Efficiency (ROA) | HCA | 11.2% ROA vs AGIO's -29.0%, ROIC 19.9% vs -26.6% |
Who Each Stock Is For
Income & stability
Growth exposure
Long-term compounding (10Y)
Sleep-well-at-night portfolio
Defensive / Recession hedge
Business Model
What each company does and how it makes money
HCA Healthcare is one of the largest for-profit hospital operators in the United States, providing comprehensive medical and surgical services through its network of acute care hospitals and outpatient facilities. It generates revenue primarily from patient services — including inpatient hospital stays, outpatient procedures, and emergency care — with the vast majority coming from government programs like Medicare and Medicaid alongside private insurance reimbursements. The company's scale advantage — operating over 180 hospitals concentrated in high-growth markets — creates significant purchasing power with suppliers and negotiating leverage with payers.
Agios Pharmaceuticals is a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing treatments for rare genetic diseases related to cellular metabolism. It generates revenue primarily from sales of its lead drug PYRUKYND for pyruvate kinase deficiency — with additional income from research collaborations and milestone payments — while advancing a pipeline of other metabolic therapies. The company's competitive advantage lies in its deep expertise in cellular metabolism science and proprietary platform for targeting metabolic pathways in rare diseases.
Revenue Breakdown by Segment
How each company's revenue is distributed across its business units
Financial Metrics Comparison
Side-by-side fundamentals across 2 stocks. BestLagging
Financial Scorecard
HCA leads in 4 of 6 categories — strongest in Financial Metrics and Profitability & Efficiency. 1 category is tied.
Financial Metrics (TTM)
HCA is the larger business by revenue, generating $75.6B annually — 1687.8x AGIO's $45M. HCA is the more profitable business, keeping 9.0% of every revenue dollar as net income compared to AGIO's -9.0%. On growth, AGIO holds the edge at +43.7% YoY revenue growth, suggesting stronger near-term business momentum.
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| RevenueTrailing 12 months | $75.6B | $45M |
| EBITDAEarnings before interest/tax | $15.5B | -$470M |
| Net IncomeAfter-tax profit | $6.8B | -$401M |
| Free Cash FlowCash after capex | $7.7B | -$414M |
| Gross MarginGross profit ÷ Revenue | +41.5% | +84.4% |
| Operating MarginEBIT ÷ Revenue | +15.8% | -10.6% |
| Net MarginNet income ÷ Revenue | +9.0% | -9.0% |
| FCF MarginFCF ÷ Revenue | +10.2% | -9.2% |
| Rev. Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +6.7% | +43.7% |
| EPS Growth (YoY)Latest quarter vs prior year | +44.6% | -111.0% |
Valuation Metrics
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Market CapShares × price | $118.5B | $2.25T |
| Enterprise ValueMkt cap + debt − cash | $167.6B | $2.25T |
| Trailing P/EPrice ÷ TTM EPS | 18.66x | -4.25x |
| Forward P/EPrice ÷ next-FY EPS est. | 17.50x | — |
| PEG RatioP/E ÷ EPS growth rate | 0.89x | — |
| EV / EBITDAEnterprise value multiple | 10.82x | — |
| Price / SalesMarket cap ÷ Revenue | 1.57x | 9999.00x |
| Price / BookPrice ÷ Book value/share | — | 1.47x |
| Price / FCFMarket cap ÷ FCF | 15.40x | — |
Profitability & Efficiency
On the Piotroski fundamental quality scale (0–9), HCA scores 7/9 vs AGIO's 3/9, reflecting strong financial health.
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| ROE (TTM)Return on equity | — | -31.2% |
| ROA (TTM)Return on assets | +11.2% | -29.0% |
| ROICReturn on invested capital | +19.9% | -26.6% |
| ROCEReturn on capital employed | +27.0% | -33.8% |
| Piotroski ScoreFundamental quality 0–9 | 7 | 3 |
| Debt / EquityFinancial leverage | — | 0.03x |
| Net DebtTotal debt minus cash | $49.2B | -$49M |
| Cash & Equiv.Liquid assets | $1.0B | $89M |
| Total DebtShort + long-term debt | $50.2B | $40M |
| Interest CoverageEBIT ÷ Interest expense | 5.37x | — |
Total Returns (with DRIP)
A $10,000 investment in HCA five years ago would be worth $30,878 today (with dividends reinvested), compared to $6,363 for AGIO. Over the past 12 months, HCA leads with a +73.9% total return vs AGIO's -14.9%. The 3-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) favors HCA at 30.2% vs AGIO's 6.1% — a key indicator of consistent wealth creation.
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| YTD ReturnYear-to-date | +12.6% | +11.2% |
| 1-Year ReturnPast 12 months | +73.9% | -14.9% |
| 3-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +120.8% | +19.4% |
| 5-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +208.8% | -36.4% |
| 10-Year ReturnCumulative with dividends | +688.3% | -21.2% |
| CAGR (3Y)Annualised 3-year return | +30.2% | +6.1% |
Risk & Volatility
HCA is the less volatile stock with a 0.29 beta — it tends to amplify market swings less than AGIO's 0.91 beta. A beta below 1.0 means the stock typically moves less than the S&P 500. HCA currently trades 95.8% from its 52-week high vs AGIO's 65.7% drawdown — a narrower gap to the peak suggests stronger recent price momentum.
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Beta (5Y)Sensitivity to S&P 500 | 0.29x | 0.91x |
| 52-Week HighHighest price in past year | $552.90 | $46.00 |
| 52-Week LowLowest price in past year | $295.00 | $22.24 |
| % of 52W HighCurrent price vs 52-week peak | +95.8% | +65.7% |
| RSI (14)Momentum oscillator 0–100 | 56.0 | 62.3 |
| Avg Volume (50D)Average daily shares traded | 879K | 948K |
Analyst Outlook
Wall Street rates HCA as "Buy" and AGIO as "Buy". Consensus price targets imply 37.3% upside for AGIO (target: $42) vs -1.1% for HCA (target: $524). HCA is the only dividend payer here at 0.56% yield — a key consideration for income-focused portfolios.
| Metric | HCAHCA Healthcare, I… | AGIOAgios Pharmaceuti… |
|---|---|---|
| Analyst RatingConsensus buy/hold/sell | Buy | Buy |
| Price TargetConsensus 12-month target | $523.92 | $41.50 |
| # AnalystsCovering analysts | 46 | 29 |
| Dividend YieldAnnual dividend ÷ price | +0.6% | — |
| Dividend StreakConsecutive years of raises | 5 | — |
| Dividend / ShareAnnual DPS | $2.94 | — |
| Buyback YieldShare repurchases ÷ mkt cap | +8.5% | 0.0% |
Historical Charts
Charts are rendered on first load. Hover for details.
Chart 1Total Return — 5 Years (Rebased to 100)
| Stock | Feb 20 | Feb 26 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 100 | 391.19 | +291.2% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | 100 | 59.31 | -40.7% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) returned +209% over 5 years vs Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO)'s -36%. A $10,000 investment in HCA 5 years ago would be worth $30,878 today (including dividends reinvested).
Chart 2Revenue Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | $41.5B | $75.6B | +82.2% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | $70M | $54M | -22.7% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s revenue grew from $41.5B (2016) to $75.6B (2025) — a 6.9% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s revenue grew from $70M (2016) to $54M (2025) — a -2.8% CAGR.
Chart 3Net Margin Trend — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.0% | 9.0% | +28.8% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -2.8% | -7.6% | -169.0% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s net margin went from 7% (2016) to 9% (2025). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s net margin went from -3% (2016) to -8% (2025).
Chart 4P/E Ratio History — 9 Years
| Stock | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 14.8 | 16.5 | +11.5% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc. has traded in a 12x–17x P/E range over 9 years; current trailing P/E is ~19x.
Chart 5EPS Growth — 10 Years
| Stock | 2016 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) | 7.3 | 28.38 | +288.8% |
| Agios Pharmaceutica… (AGIO) | -5.07 | -7.12 | -40.4% |
HCA Healthcare, Inc.'s EPS grew from $7.30 (2016) to $28.38 (2025) — a 16% CAGR. Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s EPS grew from $-5.07 (2016) to $-7.12 (2025).
Chart 6Free Cash Flow — 5 Years
HCA Healthcare, Inc. generated $8B FCF in 2025 (+43% vs 2021). Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. generated $-377M FCF in 2025 (+9% vs 2021).
HCA vs AGIO: Frequently Asked Questions
8 questions · data-driven answers · updated daily
01Is HCA or AGIO a better buy right now?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) offers the better valuation at 18.7x trailing P/E (17.5x forward), making it the more compelling value choice. Analysts rate HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) a "Buy" — based on 46 analyst ratings — the highest consensus in this comparison. The "better buy" depends entirely on your goals: growth investors should weight revenue trajectory, value investors should weight P/E and PEG, and income investors should weight dividend yield and streak.
02Which is the better long-term investment — HCA or AGIO?
Over the past 5 years, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) delivered a total return of +208.8%, compared to -36.4% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (AGIO). A $10,000 investment in HCA five years ago would be worth approximately $31K today (assuming dividends reinvested). Over 10 years, the gap is even starker: HCA returned +688.3% versus AGIO's -21.2%. Past returns do not guarantee future results, and the stock with the higher historical return may already have its best growth priced in.
03Which is safer — HCA or AGIO?
By beta (market sensitivity over 5 years), HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the lower-risk stock at 0.29β versus Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc.'s 0.91β — meaning AGIO is approximately 208% more volatile than HCA relative to the S&P 500.
04Which has better profit margins — HCA or AGIO?
HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the more profitable company, earning 9.0% net margin versus -764.0% for Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. — meaning it keeps 9.0% of every revenue dollar as bottom-line profit. Operating margin tells a similar story: HCA leads at 15.8% versus -873.9% for AGIO. At the gross margin level — before operating expenses — AGIO leads at 88.3%, reflecting greater pricing power or product mix advantage. Stronger margins indicate durable pricing power, lower cost of revenue, or higher mix of software/services. They are one of the clearest signs of business quality.
05Is HCA or AGIO more undervalued right now?
Analyst consensus price targets imply the most upside for AGIO: 37.3% to $41.50.
06Which pays a better dividend — HCA or AGIO?
In this comparison, HCA (0.6% yield) pays a dividend. AGIO does not pay a meaningful dividend and should not be held primarily for income.
07Is HCA or AGIO better for a retirement portfolio?
For long-horizon retirement investors, HCA Healthcare, Inc. (HCA) is the stronger choice — it scores higher on the combination of lower volatility, dividend reliability, and long-term compounding (low volatility (β 0.29), 0.6% yield, +688.3% 10Y return). Both have compounded well over 10 years (HCA: +688.3%, AGIO: -21.2%), confirming both are viable long-term holds — but the lower-volatility option typically results in less emotional selling during corrections. Retirement portfolios generally favour predictability over maximum returns. Consult a financial advisor before making allocation decisions.
08What are the main differences between HCA and AGIO?
Both stocks operate in the Healthcare sector, making this a peer-level intra-sector comparison — the same macro tailwinds and headwinds will affect both. HCA pays a dividend while AGIO does not, making them suitable for different income and tax situations. These fundamental differences mean investors should not choose between them on a single metric — the "better stock" depends entirely on which of these characteristics aligns with your investment strategy.
Find Stocks Like These
Explore pre-built screens for each stock's profile, or build a custom screen to find stocks that beat both.