Daren Shaw Sells 2,000 Shares of The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) Stock

The Ensign Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ENSG) Director Daren Shaw sold 2,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, August 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $141.71, for a total value of $283,420.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 29,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,127,303.75. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink.

The Ensign Group Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:ENSG traded up $0.67 on Monday, hitting $141.92. 154,912 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 299,596. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $131.54 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $124.34. The Ensign Group, Inc. has a one year low of $90.00 and a one year high of $147.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09, a quick ratio of 1.53 and a current ratio of 1.53. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 37.01, a PEG ratio of 1.88 and a beta of 0.99.

The Ensign Group (NASDAQ:ENSG) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The company reported $1.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.30 by $0.02. The Ensign Group had a net margin of 5.68% and a return on equity of 17.32%. The company had revenue of $1.04 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.02 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.08 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 12.5% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that The Ensign Group, Inc. will post 4.95 earnings per share for the current year.

The Ensign Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Sunday, June 30th were given a dividend of $0.06 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 28th. This represents a $0.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.17%. The Ensign Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 6.32%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently issued reports on ENSG. Stephens reiterated an “overweight” rating and issued a $135.00 target price on shares of The Ensign Group in a research note on Tuesday, April 23rd. Truist Financial lifted their target price on shares of The Ensign Group from $150.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Oppenheimer lifted their target price on shares of The Ensign Group from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, May 6th. Finally, Macquarie initiated coverage on shares of The Ensign Group in a report on Friday, June 28th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $134.50.

Institutional Trading of The Ensign Group

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Opal Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Ensign Group during the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. EntryPoint Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Ensign Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $34,000. Scarborough Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Ensign Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. LRI Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of The Ensign Group during the 1st quarter valued at about $45,000. Finally, Natixis boosted its position in The Ensign Group by 39.6% in the first quarter. Natixis now owns 398 shares of the company’s stock valued at $50,000 after buying an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. 96.12% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.