Truist Financial Issues Positive Forecast for Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) Stock Price

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) had its target price raised by Truist Financial from $140.00 to $150.00 in a research report sent to investors on Friday morning, MarketBeat reports. Truist Financial currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Several other brokerages have also issued reports on EHC. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Thursday, May 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $125.00 price target for the company. Barclays lifted their target price on Encompass Health from $140.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Wall Street Zen raised Encompass Health from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 2nd. Weiss Ratings downgraded Encompass Health from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a report on Friday, June 26th. Finally, Leerink Partners set a $152.00 price objective on Encompass Health in a report on Friday, May 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have assigned a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $146.57.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:EHC opened at $125.39 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $106.91 and its 200 day simple moving average is $104.59. Encompass Health has a fifty-two week low of $92.77 and a fifty-two week high of $127.99. The company has a market capitalization of $12.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.42, a P/E/G ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.17.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 5th. The company reported $1.55 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.48 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $1.60 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.57 billion. Encompass Health had a net margin of 10.01% and a return on equity of 18.08%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $1.40 earnings per share. Encompass Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 6.020-6.250 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Encompass Health will post 6.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, October 1st will be given a $0.21 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, October 1st. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.7%. This is an increase from Encompass Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. Encompass Health’s payout ratio is presently 12.69%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Encompass Health news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 682 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.56, for a total transaction of $71,309.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president owned 24,755 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,588,382.80. This represents a 2.68% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 1.80% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. lifted its position in shares of Encompass Health by 3,059,159.7% in the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Co. now owns 3,793,482 shares of the company’s stock worth $402,640,000 after purchasing an additional 3,793,358 shares in the last quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC bought a new position in Encompass Health in the fourth quarter valued at $4,881,000. Systematic Financial Management LP grew its position in Encompass Health by 3.6% in the fourth quarter. Systematic Financial Management LP now owns 440,752 shares of the company’s stock valued at $46,782,000 after purchasing an additional 15,462 shares in the last quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. increased its stake in Encompass Health by 128.7% in the 4th quarter. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. now owns 129,205 shares of the company’s stock valued at $13,790,000 after buying an additional 72,703 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its position in Encompass Health by 2,468.6% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 11,533 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,224,000 after buying an additional 11,084 shares in the last quarter. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.