Short Interest in Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC) Rises By 19.2%

Encompass Health Co. (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 2,110,000 shares, a growth of 19.2% from the February 13th total of 1,770,000 shares. Currently, 2.1% of the company's stock are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 675,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.1 days.

Insider Transactions at Encompass Health

In other Encompass Health news, CAO Andrew L. Price sold 5,042 shares of Encompass Health stock in a transaction that occurred 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 transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 69,164 shares in the company, 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 legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 2.10% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EHC. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its stake in Encompass Health by 87.8% in the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 293 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the last quarter. Colonial Trust Co SC acquired a new stake in shares of Encompass Health in the fourth quarter worth about $29,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Encompass Health during the 3rd quarter valued at about $40,000. Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Encompass Health in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC lifted its holdings in Encompass Health by 38.7% in the 4th quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 455 shares of the company's stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. 97.25% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Encompass Health Trading Down 2.1 %

EHC stock traded down $2.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $97.05. 841,146 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 632,431. The stock's fifty day moving average is $97.98 and its 200-day moving average is $97.13. The company has a market cap of $9.77 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.76, a P/E/G ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a current ratio of 1.05, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.84. Encompass Health has a 52-week low of $76.11 and a 52-week 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 for the quarter, beating 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%. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Encompass Health will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Encompass Health Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, April 1st. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.70%. Encompass Health's dividend payout ratio is 15.25%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on EHC shares. William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Friday, February 7th. StockNews.com raised shares of Encompass Health from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Saturday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $110.00 price objective on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Encompass Health from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price target on Encompass Health from $117.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, February 10th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Encompass Health presently has an average rating of "Buy" and a consensus 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.