COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:CDP) Shares Sold by BNP Paribas Financial Markets

BNP Paribas Financial Markets lessened its stake in shares of COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:CDP - Free Report) by 67.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 25,506 shares of the company's stock after selling 52,829 shares during the quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets' holdings in COPT Defense Properties were worth $789,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of CDP. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its position in COPT Defense Properties by 813.0% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 6,247,854 shares of the company's stock worth $193,371,000 after buying an additional 5,563,548 shares during the last quarter. Earnest Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of COPT Defense Properties by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Earnest Partners LLC now owns 4,795,639 shares of the company's stock worth $148,425,000 after acquiring an additional 89,571 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its stake in shares of COPT Defense Properties by 21.9% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 3,283,383 shares of the company's stock worth $101,621,000 after acquiring an additional 590,051 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in COPT Defense Properties by 12.2% during the fourth quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,099,052 shares of the company's stock worth $95,916,000 after purchasing an additional 335,775 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sei Investments Co. lifted its position in COPT Defense Properties by 1.2% in the fourth quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 2,139,455 shares of the company's stock valued at $66,216,000 after purchasing an additional 24,577 shares during the period.

Insider Activity at COPT Defense Properties

In other news, Director Robert L. Denton sold 4,398 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.70, for a total value of $117,426.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 1.42% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

COPT Defense Properties Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CDP traded up $0.71 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $27.66. 1,094,959 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 934,908. The company has a market cap of $3.12 billion, a PE ratio of 22.49 and a beta of 0.86. The company has a current ratio of 2.47, a quick ratio of 2.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $26.54 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $28.61. COPT Defense Properties has a 12-month low of $23.47 and a 12-month high of $34.22.

COPT Defense Properties (NYSE:CDP - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, April 28th. The company reported $0.65 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.65. The firm had revenue of $187.86 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $186.37 million. COPT Defense Properties had a return on equity of 9.07% and a net margin of 18.44%. COPT Defense Properties's revenue was up 6.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.62 earnings per share. On average, analysts forecast that COPT Defense Properties will post 2.67 EPS for the current year.

COPT Defense Properties Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, July 16th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a $0.305 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 30th. This represents a $1.22 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.41%. COPT Defense Properties's dividend payout ratio is presently 97.60%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

CDP has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on COPT Defense Properties in a research report on Monday, March 17th. They set a "buy" rating and a $31.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on COPT Defense Properties from $36.00 to $30.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, COPT Defense Properties has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $33.14.

COPT Defense Properties Profile

COPT Defense Properties is a real estate investment trust. It acquires, develops, manages, sells, and leases out office properties and data centers. The firm operates through the following segments: Defense/Information Technology Locations, Regional Office, Wholesale Data Center, and Other. The company was founded on January 22,1988 and is headquartered in Columbia, MD.