Encompass Health Corporation $EHC Shares Sold by AQR Capital Management LLC

Key Points

• AQR Capital Management LLC has reduced its stake in Encompass Health Corporation by 6.0%, now holding 648,100 shares valued at approximately $64.99 million.
• Encompass Health has set its FY 2025 earnings guidance between $5.120 and $5.340 EPS, and reported a quarterly revenue increase of 12.0% year-over-year.
• The company recently increased its quarterly dividend from $0.17 to $0.19 per share, offering a dividend yield of 0.6% to stockholders.

AQR Capital Management LLC lessened its stake in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 6.0% during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 648,100 shares of the company's stock after selling 41,106 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC owned about 0.64% of Encompass Health worth $64,992,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in EHC. OneDigital Investment Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 1st quarter valued at about $263,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Encompass Health by 21.5% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,366 shares of the company's stock worth $240,000 after buying an additional 419 shares during the period. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 6.7% in the 1st quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,727 shares of the company's stock valued at $276,000 after acquiring an additional 172 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 30.1% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 9,597 shares of the company's stock valued at $972,000 after acquiring an additional 2,218 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp boosted its position in Encompass Health by 88.7% during the 1st quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 4,290 shares of the company's stock worth $434,000 after purchasing an additional 2,017 shares during the period. 97.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

Shares of EHC traded up $2.29 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $126.89. The stock had a trading volume of 558,791 shares, compared to its average volume of 638,314. Encompass Health Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $87.85 and a fifty-two week high of $126.90. 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 company has a market cap of $12.78 billion, a PE ratio of 24.83, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.92. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $117.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $112.58.

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

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed 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. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.6%. This is a boost from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. Encompass Health's payout ratio is 13.31%.

Insider Transactions at Encompass Health

In related news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 1,020 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.59, for a total value of $126,061.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 18,846 shares in the company, valued at $2,329,177.14. This trade represents a 5.13% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 2.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EHC has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Bank of America increased their target price on Encompass Health from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday. KeyCorp lifted 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. 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. Truist Financial upped their price objective 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. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, August 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seven have given a Buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Buy" and an average price target of $137.71.

Encompass Health 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.