Entropy Technologies LP Invests $2.90 Million in Encompass Health Corporation $EHC

Entropy Technologies LP purchased a new stake in Encompass Health Corporation (NYSE:EHC) in the 1st quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm purchased 29,924 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $2,895,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of EHC. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund purchased a new position in Encompass Health during the first quarter worth approximately $3,923,000. Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 288.6% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 265,000 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,633,000 after buying an additional 196,800 shares during the period. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL lifted its position in shares of Encompass Health by 2.0% during the 1st quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 4,813 shares of the company’s stock valued at $466,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Morningstar Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Encompass Health by 27.5% in the 1st quarter. Morningstar Investment Management LLC now owns 8,547 shares of the company’s stock valued at $827,000 after acquiring an additional 1,846 shares during the period. Finally, Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership grew its stake in Encompass Health by 1.6% in the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 1,182,574 shares of the company’s stock valued at $114,390,000 after acquiring an additional 18,740 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

Encompass Health Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of EHC stock opened at $112.66 on Friday. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $104.97 and its two-hundred day moving average is $103.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 1.17 and a current ratio of 1.17. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.81, a PEG ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 0.74. Encompass Health Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $92.77 and a fifty-two week high of $127.99.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last released its earnings results on Thursday, April 30th. The company reported $1.60 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.51 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $1.59 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.57 billion. Encompass Health had a net margin of 10.04% and a return on equity of 18.28%. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 9.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.37 earnings per share. Encompass Health has set its FY 2026 guidance at 5.890-6.110 EPS. Research analysts expect that Encompass Health Corporation will post 5.96 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 1st will be issued a $0.21 dividend. This represents a $0.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.7%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 1st. This is a positive change from Encompass Health’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.19. Encompass Health’s payout ratio is currently 12.69%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on EHC shares. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Encompass Health from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research report on Friday, June 26th. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $153.00 to $140.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, May 5th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Encompass Health from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, May 2nd. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Thursday, May 28th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $125.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partners set a $152.00 price objective on Encompass Health in a report on Friday, May 22nd. One research 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 MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $143.86.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Patrick William Tuer sold 682 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.56, for a total transaction of $71,309.92. Following the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 24,755 shares in the company, valued at $2,588,382.80. The trade was a 2.68% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 1.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Encompass Health Company Profile

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.