HCA Healthcare Stock Volume Plummets to 279th Amid $9M Legal Settlement Over Data Breach

On July 31, 2025, HCA Healthcare (HCA) closed with a 0.30% decline, trading at a volume of $520 million—a 38.25% drop from the previous day. This placed the stock at 279th in volume rank among listed equities.

HCA faces a significant legal and reputational challenge following a $9 million+ settlement to resolve 27 consolidated class action lawsuits over a 2023 data breach. The incident, disclosed in July 2024, involved hackers accessing 27.7 million patient records from an external storage system linked to email automation. The compromised data included names, contact details, birth dates, and appointment information. While HCA denies liability, the settlement—which excludes admission of wrongdoing—includes financial compensation for affected patients, credit monitoring services, and a two-year cybersecurity commitment. The final approval hearing is scheduled for October 27, 2025, with claims submissions due by September 25.

The settlement underscores growing investor concerns over cybersecurity risks in healthcare, a sector increasingly targeted by cyberattacks. The resolution, though non-admission, could impact HCA’s operational costs and regulatory scrutiny. Additionally, the breach highlights vulnerabilities in third-party systems, a critical risk factor for providers relying on external vendors for data management.

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