Encompass Health Corporation $EHC Shares Acquired by VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al

VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al increased its position in shares of Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC) by 70.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 18,131 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 7,500 shares during the quarter. VIRGINIA RETIREMENT SYSTEMS ET Al’s holdings in Encompass Health were worth $2,303,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EHC. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Encompass Health during the second quarter worth about $210,000. Marshall Wace LLP acquired a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the second quarter valued at approximately $34,719,000. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. increased its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 14.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bahl & Gaynor Inc. now owns 288,226 shares of the company’s stock worth $35,345,000 after purchasing an additional 37,161 shares in the last quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Encompass Health by 21.8% during the 1st quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 21,329 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,160,000 after purchasing an additional 3,815 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Park Avenue Securities LLC lifted its stake in Encompass Health by 28.5% in the 2nd quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 9,153 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,122,000 after buying an additional 2,030 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

Encompass Health Stock Down 1.5%

Shares of NYSE:EHC opened at $106.09 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.14, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The firm has a market cap of $10.67 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.05, a PEG ratio of 1.87 and a beta of 0.74. The stock’s 50-day moving average price is $112.82 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $117.59. Encompass Health Corporation has a 12-month low of $87.85 and a 12-month high of $127.99.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 16th. The company reported $0.93 earnings per share for the quarter. Encompass Health had a net margin of 9.33% and a return on equity of 17.84%. The business had revenue of $136.30 million for the quarter. Encompass Health has set its FY22 guidance at $3.83-$4.19 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Encompass Health Corporation will post 4.8 EPS for the current year.

Encompass Health Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a $0.19 dividend. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 2nd. Encompass Health’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 14.37%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Zacks Research cut Encompass Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, November 19th. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b+)” rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Wednesday, October 8th. Raymond James Financial upgraded shares of Encompass Health to a “strong-buy” rating in a report on Friday, October 31st. KeyCorp lifted their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, October 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $142.86.

About Encompass Health

Encompass Health Corporation is a leading provider of post‐acute healthcare services in the United States, operating a comprehensive network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals and home health and hospice agencies. Its inpatient rehabilitation hospitals offer intensive therapy programs for patients recovering from conditions such as stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cardiac and pulmonary disorders, and orthopedic procedures. Through its home health segment, Encompass Health delivers skilled nursing, physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy to patients in the comfort of their homes, while its hospice services provide end‐of‐life care focused on symptom management and emotional support for patients and families.

Founded in 1984 as HealthSouth Corporation and rebranded as Encompass Health in 2018, the company has grown organically and through acquisitions to serve patients across more than 30 states.