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Here's Why Encompass Health (EHC) is a Strong Value Stock

Taking full advantage of the stock market and investing with confidence are common goals for new and old investors alike.

Achieving those goals is made easier with the Zacks Style Scores, a unique set of guidelines that rates stocks based on popular investing methodologies, namely value, growth, and momentum. The Style Scores can help you narrow down which stocks are better for your portfolio and which ones can beat the market over the long-term.

Why Investors Should Pay Attention to This Value Stock

Different than growth or momentum investors, value-focused investors are all about finding good stocks at good prices, and discovering which companies are trading under what their true value is before the broader market catches on. The Value Style Score utilizes ratios like P/E, PEG, Price/Sales, and Price/Cash Flow to help pick out the most attractive and discounted stocks.

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Encompass Health (EHC)

Encompass Health Corporation is a provider of integrated healthcare services. It offers facility-based patient care through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals. With a national footprint that includes 160 hospitals across 37 states and Puerto Rico, the company delivers high-quality, cost-effective, integrated care in the healthcare space. It provides a continuum of facility-based for its patients and their families, which will gain more prevalence as coordinated care and integrated delivery payment models, such as accountable care organizations and bundled payment arrangements.

EHC is a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock, with a Value Style Score of A and VGM Score of A. Shares are currently trading at a forward P/E of 21X for the current fiscal year compared to the Medical - Outpatient and Home Healthcare industry's P/E of 22.9X. Additionally, EHC has a PEG Ratio of 1.3 and a Price/Cash Flow ratio of 13.2X. Value investors should also note EHC's Price/Sales ratio of 1.8X.

Value investors don't just pay attention to a company's valuation ratios; positive earnings play a crucial role, too. Eight analysts revised their earnings estimate upwards in the last 60 days for fiscal 2024. The Zacks Consensus Estimate has increased $0.14 to $4.10 per share. EHC has an average earnings surprise of 18.7%.

With strong valuation and earnings metrics, a good Zacks Rank, and top-tier Value and VGM Style Scores, investors should strongly think about adding EHC to their portfolios.

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Encompass Health Corporation (EHC) : Free Stock Analysis Report

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Zacks Investment Research