Aptus Capital Advisors LLC Increases Stake in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC)

Aptus Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC) by 16.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 72,286 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 10,022 shares during the period. Aptus Capital Advisors LLC owned 0.07% of Encompass Health worth $6,986,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Trillium Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the 1st quarter worth about $4,432,000. TD Asset Management Inc raised its holdings in Encompass Health by 16.0% in the first quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 2,283,674 shares of the company’s stock valued at $188,586,000 after buying an additional 314,488 shares during the period. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in Encompass Health by 275.7% in the second quarter. Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 35,799 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,071,000 after buying an additional 26,270 shares during the period. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in Encompass Health by 85.6% in the second quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 14,365 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,232,000 after buying an additional 6,627 shares during the period. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Encompass Health in the second quarter valued at approximately $2,204,000. 97.25% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

Encompass Health stock opened at $102.62 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a current ratio of 1.04 and a quick ratio of 1.04. The company has a market cap of $10.34 billion, a PE ratio of 24.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.37 and a beta of 0.88. Encompass Health Co. has a 12 month low of $63.01 and a 12 month high of $104.55. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $95.90 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $89.98.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last posted its earnings results on Monday, October 28th. The company reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.09. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 17.60% and a net margin of 8.10%. The company had revenue of $1.35 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.33 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.86 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Encompass Health Co. will post 4.29 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health announced that its Board of Directors has approved a stock repurchase program on Wednesday, July 24th that allows the company to repurchase $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to repurchase up to 5.4% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically an indication that the company’s management believes its shares are undervalued.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, January 2nd will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.66%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, January 2nd. Encompass Health’s dividend payout ratio is currently 16.43%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts recently commented on EHC shares. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $109.00 to $116.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, October 29th. Stephens reaffirmed an “overweight” rating and issued a $105.00 price objective on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Tuesday, August 6th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $100.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 25th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 30th. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $115.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 29th. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Encompass Health presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $107.11.

Encompass Health Company 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.