Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) Upgraded by Leerink Partnrs to Strong-Buy

Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) to a strong-buy rating in a report published on Wednesday, Zacks.com reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently commented on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $101.00 to $108.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 25th. Raymond James reiterated a strong-buy rating and issued a $95.00 price target (up previously from $85.00) on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Friday, April 26th. SVB Leerink assumed coverage on Encompass Health in a research note on Wednesday. They issued an outperform rating and a $100.00 price target on the stock. Stephens reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $94.00 price target on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Wednesday, June 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $83.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 22nd. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus price target of $94.13.

Encompass Health Trading Up 1.0 %

Shares of EHC opened at $84.77 on Wednesday. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $85.18 and its two-hundred day moving average is $78.55. The stock has a market cap of $8.54 billion, a PE ratio of 22.91, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 0.89. Encompass Health has a 12 month low of $57.55 and a 12 month high of $87.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 24th. The company reported $1.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.19. The company had revenue of $1.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.27 billion. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 18.01% and a net margin of 7.60%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 13.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.88 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Encompass Health will post 4.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, July 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, July 1st. Encompass Health’s payout ratio is currently 16.22%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Encompass Health

In related news, Director Greg D. Carmichael bought 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $83.73 per share, with a total value of $167,460.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 17,050 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,427,596.50. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, Director Greg D. Carmichael bought 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 3rd. The stock was bought at an average cost of $83.73 per share, with a total value of $167,460.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 17,050 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,427,596.50. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 44,976 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.27, for a total value of $3,745,151.52. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 554,098 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $46,139,740.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 69,519 shares of company stock worth $5,816,091 over the last quarter. 2.10% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Encompass Health

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in EHC. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter worth approximately $20,210,000. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 364.4% in the 4th quarter. Jackson Creek Investment Advisors LLC now owns 13,910 shares of the company’s stock worth $928,000 after buying an additional 10,915 shares in the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 2.3% in the 4th quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings Inc. now owns 1,318,784 shares of the company’s stock worth $87,989,000 after buying an additional 29,926 shares in the last quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 112.4% in the 4th quarter. Phocas Financial Corp. now owns 99,875 shares of the company’s stock worth $6,664,000 after buying an additional 52,847 shares in the last quarter. Finally, TimesSquare Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 18.1% in the 4th quarter. TimesSquare Capital Management LLC now owns 1,150,866 shares of the company’s stock worth $76,786,000 after buying an additional 175,975 shares in the last quarter. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Encompass Health

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.