Level Four Advisory Services LLC Boosts Stock Position in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC)

Level Four Advisory Services LLC raised its stake in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC) by 20.1% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 10,800 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 1,806 shares during the period. Level Four Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in Encompass Health were worth $997,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of EHC. BNP Paribas Financial Markets increased its stake in Encompass Health by 38.1% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 38,397 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,711,000 after buying an additional 10,591 shares during the period. Townsquare Capital LLC acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the third quarter worth about $405,000. Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its position in Encompass Health by 1.6% in the third quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 30,641 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,961,000 after purchasing an additional 479 shares during the period. Bellevue Group AG increased its position in Encompass Health by 38.7% during the 3rd quarter. Bellevue Group AG now owns 19,233 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,859,000 after purchasing an additional 5,365 shares during the period. Finally, Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 62.0% in the 3rd quarter. Point72 Asia Singapore Pte. Ltd. now owns 1,095 shares of the company’s stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 419 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Encompass Health

In other news, CAO Andrew L. Price sold 5,042 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $98.29, for a total value of $495,578.18. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 69,164 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,798,129.56. The trade was a 6.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

NYSE EHC opened at $100.75 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Encompass Health Co. has a fifty-two week low of $78.53 and a fifty-two week high of $111.00. The business has a fifty day moving average of $98.67 and a 200-day moving average of $97.46. The stock has a market cap of $10.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.92.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.05 by $0.12. Encompass Health had a net margin of 8.48% and a return on equity of 17.56%. As a group, analysts predict that Encompass Health Co. will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be paid a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.67%. Encompass Health’s payout ratio is currently 15.25%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

EHC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays upped their price objective on Encompass Health from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Encompass Health from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a report on Saturday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $110.00 target price on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. KeyCorp increased their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $117.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Finally, William Blair reissued an “outperform” rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average price target of $107.67.

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.