StockNews.com Downgrades Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC) to Hold

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) was downgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report released on Wednesday.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. Barclays upped their price objective on Encompass Health from $116.00 to $118.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective 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. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $110.00 price target on shares of Encompass Health in a research report on Tuesday, February 11th. Finally, William Blair reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Encompass Health in a report on Friday, February 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have assigned a buy rating and two have assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Encompass Health currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $107.67.

Encompass Health Stock Performance

NYSE:EHC traded up $0.53 on Wednesday, hitting $103.53. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,002,397 shares, compared to its average volume of 666,489. 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 one year low of $79.26 and a one year high of $104.55. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $99.91 and a two-hundred day moving average of $98.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $10.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 0.87.

Encompass Health (NYSE:EHC - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $1.17 EPS 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%. Research analysts predict that Encompass Health will post 4.8 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Activity at Encompass Health

In other Encompass Health news, CAO Andrew L. Price sold 5,042 shares of the stock in a transaction dated 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 approximately $6,798,129.56. This trade represents a 6.79 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 2.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Encompass Health by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Miracle Mile Advisors LLC now owns 3,835 shares of the company's stock worth $354,000 after acquiring an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its holdings in shares of Encompass Health by 9.6% during the fourth quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,380 shares of the company's stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 121 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC grew its stake in shares of Encompass Health by 21.6% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 704 shares of the company's stock worth $65,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the last quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Encompass Health by 38.7% in the fourth quarter. CBIZ Investment Advisory Services LLC now owns 455 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 127 shares during the period. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its position in Encompass Health by 87.8% during 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 during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 97.25% of the company's stock.

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.