Lazard Asset Management LLC Increases Stock Position in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC)

Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its position in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 195.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 119,423 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 79,046 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned 0.12% of Encompass Health worth $11,027,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 87.8% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 293 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 137 shares during the period. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new stake in Encompass Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Transce3nd LLC purchased a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 38.7% in the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 455 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, Tompkins Financial Corp purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health during the fourth quarter worth approximately $46,000. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Encompass Health

In related news, insider Elissa Joy Charbonneau sold 4,279 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $116.61, for a total transaction of $498,974.19. Following the sale, the insider now owns 11,958 shares of the company's stock, valued at $1,394,422.38. This trade represents a 26.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP John Patrick Darby sold 10,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $114.79, for a total transaction of $1,147,900.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 79,710 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,149,910.90. The trade was a 11.15% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $118.00 to $129.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Encompass Health from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Sunday, May 11th. KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $120.00 to $122.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. UBS Group boosted their target price on Encompass Health from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and set a $135.00 target price (up from $116.00) on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $120.86.

Encompass Health Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EHC traded up $0.36 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $121.54. 152,476 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 692,054. The company has a market cap of $12.25 billion, a PE ratio of 27.25, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $105.97 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $100.90. Encompass Health Co. has a 12-month low of $82.74 and a 12-month high of $121.84.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $1.37 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.19 by $0.18. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 8.48%. Encompass Health's quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.12 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that Encompass Health Co. will post 4.8 EPS for the current year.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, July 1st will be paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, July 1st. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.56%. Encompass Health's payout ratio is 14.05%.

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.