Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Acquires 93,992 Shares of Encompass Health Corporation $EHC

Key Points

• Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Encompass Health Corporation by 5.3%, owning approximately 1.86% of the company, valued at $189.55 million.
• Analysts have raised their target prices for Encompass Health, with Royal Bank Of Canada setting a new price target of $125.00 and Barclays raising theirs to $129.00.
• Encompass Health announced a dividend increase to $0.19 per share, scheduled for payment on October 15th, following a previous quarterly dividend of $0.17.

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 5.3% in the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,871,581 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 93,992 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP owned 1.86% of Encompass Health worth $189,549,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EHC. Cerity Partners LLC raised its position in Encompass Health by 76.9% during the 4th quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 5,837 shares of the company's stock valued at $547,000 after purchasing an additional 2,537 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its position in Encompass Health by 63.1% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 50,900 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,701,000 after purchasing an additional 19,700 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Encompass Health by 89.0% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 115,045 shares of the company's stock worth $10,624,000 after acquiring an additional 54,167 shares in the last quarter. Mariner LLC raised its position in shares of Encompass Health by 24.6% in the 4th quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 4,251 shares of the company's stock worth $393,000 after acquiring an additional 838 shares in the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC raised its position in shares of Encompass Health by 5.3% in the 4th quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 8,209 shares of the company's stock worth $758,000 after acquiring an additional 412 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 97.25% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on EHC. Barclays increased their target price on Encompass Health from $118.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Wall Street Zen lowered Encompass Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, June 6th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. UBS Group increased their target price on Encompass Health from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their target price on Encompass Health from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Encompass Health has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus target price of $134.00.

Encompass Health Stock Down 0.5%

EHC stock traded down $0.67 on Friday, reaching $122.76. 798,000 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 895,065. Encompass Health Corporation has a one year low of $87.85 and a one year high of $124.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.06 and a quick ratio of 1.06. The company has a market cap of $12.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.86. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $116.38 and a 200-day simple moving average of $110.27.

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

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. This is a positive change from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Encompass Health's dividend payout ratio is 14.87%.

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.