Encompass Health Corporation $EHC Position Boosted by Candriam S.C.A.

Key Points

• Candriam increased its Encompass Health stake by 26.5% in the third quarter to 86,035 shares, worth about $10.5 million; institutional investors collectively own 97.25% of the stock.
• Analysts maintain a broadly positive view: the consensus rating is Buy, with an average price target of $154.25. Recent targets included UBS at $165 and Barclays at $151.
• Encompass Health beat quarterly estimates, reporting EPS of $1.52 versus $1.36 expected and revenue of $1.61 billion, up 8.9% year over year; it also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.21 per share.

Candriam S.C.A. lifted its position in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 26.5% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 86,035 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 18,035 shares during the period. Candriam S.C.A. owned approximately 0.09% of Encompass Health worth $10,491,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in EHC. Ethic Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 25.7% in the 3rd quarter. Ethic Inc. now owns 11,470 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,393,000 after purchasing an additional 2,347 shares in the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA increased its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 16,037 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,948,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares during the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 2,381 shares of the company's stock worth $289,000 after buying an additional 167 shares in the last quarter. CenterBook Partners LP acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the 3rd quarter worth $394,000. Finally, Heritage Family Offices LLP bought a new stake in shares of Encompass Health during the 3rd quarter worth $62,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the company. TD Cowen lifted their target price on Encompass Health from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, October 30th. Barclays increased their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $144.00 to $151.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, October 29th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $155.00 to $165.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, October 30th. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Encompass Health from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, October 31st. Finally, Raymond James Financial reiterated a "strong-buy" rating and set a $155.00 price objective on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Friday, October 30th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $154.25.

Insider Activity

In other news, EVP John Darby sold 4,858 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, August 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $121.09, for a total value of $588,255.22. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 75,041 shares of the company's stock, valued at $9,086,714.69. This represents a 6.08% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. 1.80% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Encompass Health Stock Up 2.4%

Shares of EHC opened at $140.79 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a quick ratio of 1.19 and a current ratio of 1.09. Encompass Health Corporation has a 52 week low of $92.77 and a 52 week high of $143.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.00, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.83. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $125.10 and a 200-day moving average of $111.14.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 28th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.36 by $0.16. The business had revenue of $1.61 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.60 billion. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 18.35% and a net margin of 10.17%. Encompass Health's quarterly revenue was up 8.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Encompass Health Corporation will post 6.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 4th. Encompass Health's payout ratio is 13.12%.

Encompass Health Profile

Encompass Health Corporation is a U.S. healthcare provider focused on inpatient rehabilitation. The company operates rehabilitation hospitals that offer specialized care for people recovering from conditions such as strokes, brain and spinal cord injuries, orthopedic conditions, and other illnesses or injuries.

Its hospitals provide coordinated rehabilitation services, including physical, occupational, and speech therapy, alongside medical care. Encompass Health serves patients through facilities across the United States.

The company was previously known as HealthSouth and adopted the Encompass Health name in 2018.

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