Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) Downgraded by Wall Street Zen to Hold

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Saturday morning.

Several other equities analysts also recently commented on the stock. Zacks Research downgraded shares of Encompass Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 19th. Barclays increased their price objective on Encompass Health from $141.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, October 30th. Raymond James Financial upgraded Encompass Health to a “strong-buy” rating in a research report on Friday, October 31st. KeyCorp upped their target price on Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, September 16th. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Encompass Health from $140.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, eight have given a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Encompass Health presently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $142.86.

Encompass Health Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:EHC opened at $102.89 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.14 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76. The stock has a market cap of $10.35 billion, a PE ratio of 19.45, a PEG ratio of 1.66 and a beta of 0.74. The company’s fifty day moving average is $110.79 and its 200 day moving average is $116.99. Encompass Health has a 52 week low of $90.67 and a 52 week high of $127.99.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 16th. The company reported $0.93 earnings per share (EPS) 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 during the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Encompass Health will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 2nd will be issued a dividend of $0.19 per share. 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 payout ratio is 14.37%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Encompass Health

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Citizens National Bank Trust Department bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. First Horizon Corp bought a new position in Encompass Health during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Westside Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Encompass Health by 56.7% during the third quarter. Westside Investment Management Inc. now owns 279 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 101 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. boosted its holdings in Encompass Health by 88.1% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 299 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Root Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the third quarter worth $39,000. Institutional investors own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

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.