The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) has received an average rating of “Moderate Buy” from six brokerages currently tracking the stock, according to data from Marketbeat. Analysts have issued a mix of recommendations, with one analyst advising a hold and five others suggesting a buy. The consensus twelve-month target price for the stock is set at $196.40, reflecting a positive outlook among investment professionals.
Recent reports from prominent equities research analysts emphasize the bullish sentiment surrounding Ensign Group. On October 8, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “buy (b)” rating for the company’s shares. Following this, Stephens raised its price target from $185.00 to $200.00 and issued an “overweight” rating on November 5. A few days later, Truist Financial also increased its price target from $190.00 to $200.00 while maintaining a “hold” rating. The Royal Bank Of Canada further boosted its target to $206.00, up from $177.00, and reiterated an “outperform” rating on November 14. Lastly, UBS Group raised its target price to $220.00, an increase from $205.00, on the same day as Stephens.
Institutional investors are showing significant interest in Ensign Group. Wasatch Advisors LP increased its holdings by 6.0% in the second quarter, acquiring an additional 199,983 shares. The firm now owns 3,558,675 shares valued at approximately $548.96 million. Baillie Gifford & Co. made a substantial move, boosting its position by 96.2% during the third quarter, resulting in ownership of 2,818,609 shares valued at around $486.97 million. Other significant investors, including Capital Research Global Investors and Geode Capital Management LLC, have also increased their stakes.
As of Tuesday, Ensign Group shares opened at $175.63, reflecting a modest increase of 0.8% at the start of trading. The company maintains a quick ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07. With a market capitalization of $10.17 billion, the stock demonstrates a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.42 and a P/E/G ratio of 1.99.
In its latest earnings announcement on November 3, Ensign Group reported earnings per share (EPS) of $1.64, exceeding the consensus estimate of $1.59 by $0.05. The company’s revenue reached $1.30 billion, surpassing analyst projections of $1.28 billion. This represented a year-over-year revenue increase of 19.8%. The company also announced its fiscal year 2025 guidance, projecting EPS between $6.480 and $6.540. Analysts anticipate the company will post an EPS of 5.59 for the current year.
On October 31, Ensign Group declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0625, payable to investors of record as of September 30. This translates to an annualized dividend of $0.25 and a dividend yield of 0.1%. The company’s payout ratio currently stands at 4.47%.
The Ensign Group operates within the healthcare sector, providing skilled nursing, senior living, and rehabilitative services through its two main segments: Skilled Services and Standard Bearer. The Skilled Services segment specializes in the management of skilled nursing facilities and rehabilitation therapy for patients requiring chronic care, including elderly individuals.
As more investors and analysts continue to take interest in Ensign Group, its stock performance and future projections will likely remain a focal point for market participants.