Insider Selling: The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) Director Sells 700 Shares of Stock

The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG - Get Free Report) Director Barry M. Smith sold 700 shares of The Ensign Group stock in a transaction on Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.15, for a total transaction of $90,405.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 30,052 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,881,215.80. This trade represents a 2.28 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website.

The Ensign Group Price Performance

ENSG stock traded up $1.37 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $130.33. The company had a trading volume of 314,590 shares, compared to its average volume of 447,761. The company has a market capitalization of $7.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.50, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.52 and a beta of 0.98. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $133.63 and a 200-day moving average price of $142.23. The Ensign Group, Inc. has a 1-year low of $113.27 and a 1-year high of $158.45. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.08, a current ratio of 1.56 and a quick ratio of 1.56.

The Ensign Group (NASDAQ:ENSG - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 5th. The company reported $1.36 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.47 by ($0.11). The Ensign Group had a net margin of 6.99% and a return on equity of 17.07%. Equities research analysts expect that The Ensign Group, Inc. will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current year.

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The Ensign Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.0625 per share. This is an increase from The Ensign Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.06. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.25 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.19%. The Ensign Group's payout ratio is presently 4.89%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group assumed coverage on shares of The Ensign Group in a research report on Thursday, November 21st. They issued a "buy" rating and a $175.00 target price for the company. Stephens reissued an "overweight" rating and issued a $155.00 target price on shares of The Ensign Group in a research report on Thursday, February 6th. Truist Financial reduced their target price on shares of The Ensign Group from $170.00 to $155.00 and set a "hold" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, Macquarie boosted their target price on shares of The Ensign Group from $165.00 to $166.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $165.17.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of ENSG. Private Advisor Group LLC acquired a new position in The Ensign Group during the third quarter worth about $228,000. Forum Financial Management LP acquired a new position in The Ensign Group during the third quarter worth about $207,000. QRG Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in The Ensign Group by 6.8% during the third quarter. QRG Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,547 shares of the company's stock worth $798,000 after acquiring an additional 355 shares in the last quarter. Moloney Securities Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in The Ensign Group during the third quarter worth about $992,000. Finally, Amalgamated Bank raised its stake in The Ensign Group by 51.7% during the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 26,093 shares of the company's stock worth $3,753,000 after acquiring an additional 8,891 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.12% of the company's stock.

About The Ensign Group

The Ensign Group, Inc provides skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services. It operates through two segments: Skilled Services and Standard Bearer. The company's Skilled Services segment engages in the operation of skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation therapy services for patients with chronic conditions, prolonged illness, and the elderly; and offers nursing facilities including specialty care, such as on-site dialysis, ventilator care, cardiac, and pulmonary management, as well as standard services comprising room and board, special nutritional programs, social services, recreational activities, entertainment, and other services.