Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Takes Position in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH has acquired a new stake in Encompass Health Corporation, purchasing 120,111 shares valued at approximately $12.17 million, which amounts to 0.12% ownership of the company.
• Several analysts provided updates on Encompass Health, with Stephens upgrading the rating to a "strong-buy," and Barclays and UBS raising their price targets to $129.00 and $130.00, respectively.
• The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.19 per share, increasing from the previous $0.17, with an annual yield of 0.71% and a payout ratio of 15.7%.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor purchased 120,111 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $12,165,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned about 0.12% of Encompass Health at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of EHC. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS bought a new position in Encompass Health in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $1,893,000. LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in Encompass Health by 8.8% in the fourth quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 35,558 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,284,000 after acquiring an additional 2,869 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in Encompass Health by 1.3% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 10,404,081 shares of the company's stock valued at $960,817,000 after acquiring an additional 138,196 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Encompass Health by 1.7% in the fourth quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 43,426 shares of the company's stock worth $4,010,000 after purchasing an additional 735 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Encompass Health in the fourth quarter worth $100,637,000. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Encompass Health Stock Up 0.6%

Shares of NYSE:EHC traded up $0.68 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $107.85. 120,536 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 799,800. Encompass Health Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $82.74 and a fifty-two week high of $123.13. The company has a quick ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $117.71 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $107.71. The firm has a market cap of $10.87 billion, a PE ratio of 22.28, a P/E/G ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.88.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be paid a $0.19 dividend. This is a positive change from Encompass Health's previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, October 1st. Encompass Health's payout ratio is presently 15.70%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Encompass Health

In other Encompass Health news, CEO Mark J. Tarr sold 118,384 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $121.53, for a total value of $14,387,207.52. Following the sale, the chief executive officer directly owned 527,070 shares in the company, valued at approximately $64,054,817.10. The trade was a 18.34% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider Elissa Joy Charbonneau sold 4,279 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $116.61, for a total transaction of $498,974.19. Following the completion of the sale, the insider owned 11,958 shares in the company, valued at $1,394,422.38. The trade was a 26.35% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on EHC shares. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Encompass Health from a "strong-buy" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, June 6th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, April 28th. Truist Financial reiterated a "buy" rating and issued a $135.00 target price (up from $116.00) on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Monday, April 28th. 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 report on Thursday, June 5th. Finally, Barclays increased their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $118.00 to $129.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, April 25th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Encompass Health has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $131.50.

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.