DaVita Inc. (DVA) AI Stock Analysis

NYSE: DVAAI research summary: business, growth, valuation, analysts, bull and bear case.

DVA AI stock analysis summary

AI Research

DaVita Inc. provides kidney dialysis and related clinical services across an extensive network of outpatient centers and hospital partnerships. The company generated $14.01B in trailing twelve-month revenue, with earnings per share rising to $11.84 alongside a 5-year share count reduction of 37.0%. However, its balance sheet carries significant leverage, marked by $10.78B in total debt and negative shareholders' equity of -$765.1M.

Market cap
$11.95B
Revenue (TTM)
$14.01B
P/E
15.8x
fwd 10.0x
1Y return
49.5%
S&P 500 16.8%
Avg. target
$219.86
17.4% vs last close

Bull case

  • DaVita achieved 55.8% year-over-year quarterly earnings growth in the quarter ended June 30, 2026.
  • Aggressive capital return programs have lowered the company's 5-year share count by 37.0%, boosting trailing twelve-month EPS to $11.84.
  • Valuation multiples remain discounted against sector peers, highlighted by an EV to EBITDA of 8.8x versus the median of its S&P 500 Healthcare peers of 15.7x.

Bear case

  • The balance sheet carries substantial financial leverage, featuring $10.78B in total debt and negative shareholders' equity of -$765.1M.
  • Annual net income declined from $936.3M in FY2024 to $746.8M in FY2025, alongside gross margin contraction from 32.9% to 27.0%.
  • Short interest stands elevated, with short percent of float recorded at 15.9%.

What DaVita does

DaVita Inc. specializes in kidney dialysis services for patients with chronic kidney failure, offering outpatient, hospital inpatient, and home-based hemodialysis care. The company operates clinical laboratories for end-stage renal disease testing and provides vascular access services, physician care, and integrated disease management programs. Domestically, DaVita operates 2,815 outpatient dialysis centers serving approximately 203,100 patients as of December 31, 2021, while delivering acute inpatient dialysis across roughly 850 hospitals nationwide. Globally, it runs 339 outpatient dialysis centers across 10 countries, catering to around 39,900 patients.

Growth and profitability

Between FY2021 and FY2025, DaVita expanded annual revenue from $11.62B to $13.64B, achieving a 5-year revenue CAGR of 3.4%. Net income fluctuated over this span, moving from $978.5M in FY2021 down to $560.4M in FY2022, before reaching $746.8M in FY2025 with an operating margin of 14.7%. Despite bottom-line volatility, EPS rose from $9.11 in FY2021 to $10.86 in FY2025. In the trailing twelve months ended June 30, 2026, revenue totaled $14.01B with an operating margin of 16.1%. For the latest quarter, quarterly revenue grew 5.2% year-over-year while quarterly earnings expanded by 55.8%.

DVA income statement →

Balance sheet and cash flow

As of June 30, 2026, DaVita held $688.9M in cash and short-term investments against $10.78B in total debt, leading to net debt of $10.09B and negative shareholders' equity of -$765.1M. The company reported total assets of $17.71B and a current ratio of 1.47. In FY2025, operating cash flow reached $1.89B and free cash flow was $1.31B. Capital expenditures consumed $575.9M, while $1.79B went to share buybacks, contributing to a 37.0% reduction in share count over 5 years.

DVA balance sheet →

Valuation and performance

DaVita trades at a trailing P/E of 15.8x and a forward P/E of 10.0x, both sitting below the median of its S&P 500 Healthcare peers at 28.9x and 16.6x, respectively. The company's EV to EBITDA stands at 8.8x compared to the peer median of 15.7x, while its price-to-sales multiple is 0.9x versus the peer median of 3.4x. Over the past year, the stock gained 49.5%, outperforming the S&P 500 benchmark return of 16.8%. Over a 5-year timeframe, the stock gained 66.9%, trailing the benchmark return of 83.0%.

DVA key metrics →

What analysts expect

Wall Street analyst ratings consist of 3 Strong Buy, 4 Hold, and 1 Sell. The mean price target is $219.86, representing a 17.4% upside relative to the last close of $187.31. For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, consensus expectations project revenue of $14.16B and EPS of $14.82, representing 37.5% earnings growth. For the following fiscal year, 8 analysts estimate revenue of $14.64B and EPS of $17.14. DaVita has beaten EPS estimates in 3 of the last 4 quarters, with the next earnings release scheduled for November 4, 2026.

DVA forecast and price target →

Key risks and what to watch

  • High leverage is reflected in net debt of $10.09B against $688.9M in cash and short-term investments.
  • Trailing operating margin sits at 16.1%, trailing the median of its S&P 500 Healthcare peers of 19.1%.
  • Long-term topline expansion has been modest, with a 5-year revenue CAGR of 3.4% from FY2020 through FY2025.

AI-generated research summary. Written with AI from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 and checked so every figure matches that data. For information only, not investment advice. Disclaimer

About this DVA AI stock analysis

This page is an AI-written research summary of DaVita Inc. (DVA). The text was generated on October 30, 2026 from Quotelinks data as of October 16, 2026 (company profile, annual results, latest balance sheet, valuation, price performance and analyst estimates). An automatic check rejects any draft that contains a figure not found in that data. It is not investment advice; verify figures on the linked tabs before making decisions.

Related: DVA income statement, DVA balance sheet, DVA key metrics, DVA analyst forecast, DVA chart. See the DVA stock overview for the latest quote and news.

DVA AI stock analysis FAQ

Does DaVita pay a dividend?

DaVita does not pay a regular dividend. The company directs excess cash flow toward capital expenditures and repurchasing stock, spending $1.79B on share buybacks in FY2025.

What is DaVita's earnings growth outlook?

For the fiscal year ending December 31, 2026, analysts anticipate EPS of $14.82, representing a 37.5% year-over-year increase. For the following year, consensus models expect EPS to grow 15.6% to $17.14.

How leveraged is DaVita's balance sheet?

As of June 30, 2026, DaVita reported $10.78B in total debt and $688.9M in cash, resulting in net debt of $10.09B. This borrowing has resulted in negative shareholders' equity of -$765.1M.

What is the consensus analyst target price for DVA?

The mean analyst price target is $219.86, which is 17.4% above the October 16, 2026 closing price of $187.31. Among tracked analysts, 3 rate the stock a Strong Buy, 4 rate it a Hold, and 1 rates it a Sell.

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