Franklin Resources Inc. Boosts Stake in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC)

Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC - Free Report) by 12.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 786,469 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 86,448 shares during the period. Franklin Resources Inc. owned approximately 0.78% of Encompass Health worth $72,630,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of EHC. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in Encompass Health by 87.8% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 293 shares of the company's stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 137 shares in the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 38.7% during the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 455 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Tompkins Financial Corp bought a new stake in shares of Encompass Health during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $46,000. V Square Quantitative Management LLC raised its holdings in Encompass Health by 43.8% in the 4th quarter. V Square Quantitative Management LLC now owns 581 shares of the company's stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 177 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Signaturefd LLC lifted its position in Encompass Health by 21.6% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 704 shares of the company's stock valued at $65,000 after acquiring an additional 125 shares in the last quarter. 97.25% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Encompass Health Price Performance

NYSE:EHC traded up $3.82 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $100.53. 192,323 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 690,435. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $99.26 and a 200 day moving average price of $97.78. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. The company has a market cap of $10.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.87. Encompass Health Co. has a 1 year low of $78.53 and a 1 year high of $104.55.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.05 by $0.12. Encompass Health had a return on equity of 17.56% and a net margin of 8.48%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Encompass Health Co. will post 4.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Encompass Health Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be issued a $0.17 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.68%. Encompass Health's dividend payout ratio is presently 15.25%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Barclays boosted their price target on Encompass Health from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. KeyCorp increased their price objective on shares of Encompass Health from $117.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Encompass Health from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. William Blair restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Buy" and a consensus price target of $107.67.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CAO Andrew L. Price sold 5,042 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.29, for a total value of $495,578.18. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 69,164 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,798,129.56. The trade was a 6.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Encompass Health Company Profile

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.