Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC) Short Interest Update

Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 1,290,000 shares, an increase of 25.2% from the August 15th total of 1,030,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 853,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days. Currently, 1.3% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Currently, 1.3% of the shares of the stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 853,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.5 days.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

NYSE EHC opened at $125.30 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $118.01 and its two-hundred day moving average is $113.44. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.52, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.06 and a current ratio of 1.06. Encompass Health has a fifty-two week low of $87.85 and a fifty-two week high of $127.15.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last posted its earnings results on Monday, August 4th. The company reported $1.40 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.20 by $0.20. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 17.83% and a net margin of 9.22%.The company had revenue of $1.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.43 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.11 earnings per share. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. Encompass Health has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.120-5.340 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Encompass Health will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 1st will be given a $0.19 dividend. This is an increase from Encompass Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.6%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 1st. Encompass Health’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 13.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Encompass Health news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 1,020 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.59, for a total value of $126,061.80. Following the sale, the executive vice president directly owned 18,846 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,329,177.14. This trade represents a 5.13% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.00% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Encompass Health

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. WPG Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 749.0% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 416 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 367 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 112.5% in the 2nd quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 425 shares of the company’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 225 shares during the period. Employees Retirement System of Texas purchased a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the 2nd quarter valued at $57,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 179.5% in the 2nd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 478 shares of the company’s stock valued at $59,000 after buying an additional 307 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

EHC has been the subject of several research reports. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $135.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday. Stephens upgraded Encompass Health from an “overweight” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $135.00 price target for the company in a research report on Thursday, June 5th. Wall Street Zen cut Encompass Health from a “strong-buy” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday, June 6th. UBS Group boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 6th. Finally, Bank of America boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $145.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, September 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and seven have assigned a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $138.43.

About Encompass Health

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.