Allianz Asset Management GmbH Grows Stake in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC)

Allianz Asset Management GmbH grew its position in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 42.4% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 396,649 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 118,056 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH owned approximately 0.39% of Encompass Health worth $40,173,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at about $152,953,000. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at about $100,637,000. Farallon Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 15,266.7% in the 4th quarter. Farallon Capital Management LLC now owns 461,000 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,573,000 after acquiring an additional 458,000 shares during the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 136.8% in the 4th quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 689,206 shares of the company's stock valued at $63,648,000 after acquiring an additional 398,154 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 22.9% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,610,669 shares of the company's stock valued at $148,746,000 after acquiring an additional 300,386 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.25% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $117.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Stephens raised shares of Encompass Health from an "overweight" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $135.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, June 5th. Truist Financial reissued a "buy" rating and issued a $135.00 price objective (up previously from $116.00) on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Encompass Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $118.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $131.50.

Encompass Health Trading Up 0.4%

Shares of Encompass Health stock traded up $0.40 on Friday, hitting $107.53. 675,621 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,004,874. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $117.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $107.40. The company has a current ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. Encompass Health Corporation has a 52 week low of $82.74 and a 52 week high of $123.13. The company has a market cap of $10.84 billion, a PE ratio of 22.22, a PEG ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.88.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $1.37 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.19 by $0.18. Encompass Health had a net margin of 8.97% and a return on equity of 17.63%. The firm had revenue of $1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.12 earnings per share. The company's revenue was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Encompass Health Corporation will post 4.8 EPS for the current year.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.19 per share. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.71%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. This is an increase from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Encompass Health's payout ratio is currently 15.70%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP John Patrick Darby sold 10,000 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 79,710 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,149,910.90. This trade represents a 11.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, insider Elissa Joy Charbonneau sold 4,279 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.61, for a total transaction of $498,974.19. Following the transaction, the insider directly owned 11,958 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,394,422.38. The trade was a 26.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 132,663 shares of company stock valued at $16,034,082. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the company's stock.

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.