Credit Agricole S A Grows Stock Holdings in Encompass Health Corporation $EHC

Key Points

• Credit Agricole S A significantly increased its stake in Encompass Health Corporation by 71.1%, acquiring an additional 9,584 shares to bring its total holdings to 23,073 shares valued at $2,337,000.
• Research analysts remain positive on Encompass Health, with several raising their price targets, including a new target of $140.00 set by Truist Financial, indicating strong growth expectations.
• Encompass Health recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.17 to $0.19, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders despite a dividend yield of only 0.6%.

Credit Agricole S A boosted its holdings in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 71.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 23,073 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 9,584 shares during the period. Credit Agricole S A's holdings in Encompass Health were worth $2,337,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Colonial Trust Co SC purchased a new position in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in Encompass Health by 749.0% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 416 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 367 shares in the last quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC grew its stake in Encompass Health by 22.9% in the 1st quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 671 shares of the company's stock valued at $68,000 after buying an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its stake in Encompass Health by 19.0% in the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 720 shares of the company's stock valued at $73,000 after buying an additional 115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at $72,000. 97.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on EHC shares. Stephens raised shares of Encompass Health from an "overweight" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $135.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, June 5th. KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, May 27th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, August 14th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Encompass Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, June 6th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have issued a Buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.00.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

NYSE EHC opened at $122.76 on Friday. Encompass Health Corporation has a 52-week low of $87.85 and a 52-week high of $124.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. The company has a market capitalization of $12.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.15 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a fifty day moving average of $116.38 and a 200-day moving average of $110.32.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 4th. The company reported $1.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.20. Encompass Health had a net margin of 9.22% and a return on equity of 17.83%. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.11 EPS. The firm's revenue was up 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Encompass Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.340 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Encompass Health Corporation will post 4.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be given a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. This is a boost from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Encompass Health's dividend payout ratio is 13.31%.

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.

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