Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to “Hold”

Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

A number of other brokerages also recently commented on EHC. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, October 2nd. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. Raymond James Financial upgraded Encompass Health to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Friday, October 31st. Truist Financial upped their price target on Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and eight have given a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $142.86.

Encompass Health Price Performance

Shares of Encompass Health stock opened at $113.49 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.45, a PEG ratio of 2.20 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $122.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $119.69. Encompass Health has a twelve month low of $87.85 and a twelve month high of $127.99.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 16th. The company reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter. The business had revenue of $136.30 million for the quarter. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 18.19% and a net margin of 9.33%. Encompass Health has set its FY22 guidance at $3.83-$4.19 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Encompass Health will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.19 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 2nd. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. Encompass Health’s dividend payout ratio is currently 14.37%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 1,020 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.59, for a total value of $126,061.80. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president owned 18,846 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,329,177.14. The trade was a 5.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Encompass Health

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Apollon Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Encompass Health by 33.3% in the 1st quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 3,807 shares of the company’s stock worth $386,000 after acquiring an additional 951 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. increased its stake in Encompass Health by 8.0% during the first quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 570,306 shares of the company’s stock valued at $57,761,000 after purchasing an additional 42,245 shares during the last quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Encompass Health by 47.1% in the 1st quarter. Verdence Capital Advisors LLC now owns 5,297 shares of the company’s stock worth $536,000 after buying an additional 1,696 shares during the last quarter. Forum Financial Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 1st quarter valued at about $201,000. Finally, Jennison Associates LLC grew its position in shares of Encompass Health by 40.2% during the 1st quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 791,109 shares of the company’s stock valued at $80,124,000 after buying an additional 227,012 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

Encompass Health Company Profile

Encompass Health Corporation provides post-acute healthcare services in the United States and Puerto Rico. It owns and operates inpatient rehabilitation hospitals that provide medical, nursing, therapy, and ancillary services. The company provides specialized rehabilitative treatment on an inpatient basis to patients who have experienced physical or cognitive disabilities or injuries due to medical conditions, such as strokes, hip fractures, and various debilitating neurological conditions.