Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC Acquires New Shares in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC)

Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC bought a new position in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC) during the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 11,320 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $971,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Encompass Health by 192.3% in the fourth quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 573 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. Oakworth Capital Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the 2nd quarter worth $40,000. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 58.9% during the 2nd quarter. Benjamin F. Edwards & Company Inc. now owns 534 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares in the last quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 31.9% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 616 shares of the company’s stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 149 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. bought a new stake in Encompass Health in the second quarter worth $58,000. 97.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity at Encompass Health

In other Encompass Health news, CFO Douglas E. Coltharp sold 12,260 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction on Tuesday, August 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.34, for a total transaction of $1,058,528.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 136,227 shares in the company, valued at $11,761,839.18. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Encompass Health Price Performance

NYSE:EHC opened at $95.09 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.35. Encompass Health Co. has a one year low of $57.55 and a one year high of $97.56. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $91.51 and a 200 day moving average price of $86.41. The stock has a market cap of $9.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.70, a PEG ratio of 1.41 and a beta of 0.88.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 5th. The company reported $1.11 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by $0.10. Encompass Health had a net margin of 7.88% and a return on equity of 17.83%. The business had revenue of $1.30 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.95 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts anticipate that Encompass Health Co. will post 4.18 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health announced that its board has authorized a stock repurchase plan on Wednesday, July 24th that authorizes the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the company to purchase up to 5.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are generally an indication that the company’s management believes its stock is undervalued.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, October 1st. This is a boost from Encompass Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.72%. Encompass Health’s payout ratio is currently 18.38%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EHC has been the topic of several recent research reports. Stephens restated an “overweight” rating and set a $105.00 target price on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. Leerink Partners started coverage on Encompass Health in a report on Wednesday, July 10th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $100.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on Encompass Health from $95.00 to $105.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, September 26th. Leerink Partnrs upgraded shares of Encompass Health to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Wednesday, July 10th. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $113.00 to $109.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, August 6th. Nine 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, the company currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $102.88.

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.