Epoch Investment Partners Inc. Sells 192,756 Shares of Encompass Health Corporation $EHC

Key Points

• Epoch Investment Partners Inc. reduced its stake in Encompass Health Corporation by 14.8%, selling 192,756 shares, yet still holds approximately 1.10% of the company, valued at $112 million.
• Multiple analysts have raised their price targets for Encompass Health, with Royal Bank of Canada increasing it from $110 to $125, indicating a positive outlook on the stock.
• Encompass Health announced a quarterly dividend increase, raising it from $0.17 to $0.19, reflecting a 0.6% yield and a positive change in policy.

Epoch Investment Partners Inc. trimmed its stake in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 14.8% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,106,249 shares of the company's stock after selling 192,756 shares during the quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. owned approximately 1.10% of Encompass Health worth $112,041,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EHC. Colonial Trust Co SC bought a new stake in Encompass Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 749.0% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 416 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 367 shares during the last quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 22.9% during the 1st quarter. Arlington Trust Co LLC now owns 671 shares of the company's stock worth $68,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. Johnson Financial Group Inc. bought a new stake in Encompass Health during the 4th quarter worth approximately $72,000. Finally, Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 19.0% during the 1st quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 720 shares of the company's stock worth $73,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Encompass Health Stock Down 1.4%

EHC traded down $1.74 during trading on Friday, hitting $121.71. 839,898 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 862,588. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The business's 50 day moving average is $116.66 and its two-hundred day moving average is $111.15. Encompass Health Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $87.85 and a fifty-two week high of $124.67. The stock has a market cap of $12.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.82, a PEG ratio of 2.13 and a beta of 0.86.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.20 by $0.20. The company had revenue of $1.46 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. Encompass Health had a net margin of 9.22% and a return on equity of 17.83%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.11 earnings per share. Encompass Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.340 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Encompass Health Corporation will post 4.8 earnings per share 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. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be given a dividend of $0.19 per share. This is a boost from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. Encompass Health's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.31%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have recently commented on EHC. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Encompass Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, June 6th. KeyCorp upped their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $122.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, August 14th. Stephens upgraded shares of Encompass Health from an "overweight" rating to a "strong-buy" rating and set a $135.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and six have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $134.00.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Encompass Health news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 1,020 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, August 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.59, for a total transaction of $126,061.80. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 18,846 shares in the company, valued at $2,329,177.14. This trade represents a 5.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. 2.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.