Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS – Get Free Report) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday.
Separately, B. Riley started coverage on Saul Centers in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. They set a “buy” rating and a $43.50 price target on the stock.
Saul Centers Stock Performance
Shares of BFS stock traded up $0.42 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $36.83. 56,686 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 54,465. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $36.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $37.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.34, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13. Saul Centers has a 12-month low of $32.13 and a 12-month high of $41.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $883.18 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.07 and a beta of 1.08.
Insider Buying and Selling
In other Saul Centers news, CEO B Francis Saul II bought 8,600 shares of Saul Centers stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $37.80 per share, with a total value of $325,080.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 146,706 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,545,486.80. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other Saul Centers news, Director James Page Lansdale sold 5,502 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.89, for a total value of $208,470.78. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 1,298 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $49,181.22. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO B Francis Saul II bought 8,600 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $37.80 per share, for a total transaction of $325,080.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 146,706 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $5,545,486.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 56.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders.
Institutional Investors Weigh In On Saul Centers
A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. LSV Asset Management purchased a new position in shares of Saul Centers in the 3rd quarter valued at about $99,000. SG Americas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $137,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $239,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers in the 4th quarter worth approximately $255,000. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund purchased a new position in Saul Centers in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $289,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.99% of the company’s stock.
About Saul Centers
Saul Centers is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Saul Centers currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio comprised of 61 properties that includes (a) 57 community and neighborhood Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use properties with approximately 9.8 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four land and development properties.