Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Makes New $6.42 Million Investment in Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a stake in Highwoods Properties, Inc. valued at approximately $6.42 million, owning about 0.20% of the company as of the latest reporting period.
• Highwoods Properties reported $0.83 earnings per share for the last quarter, slightly above the consensus estimate of $0.82, despite a 5.2% decrease in revenue year-over-year.
• The firm has announced a $0.50 quarterly dividend, resulting in an annualized dividend yield of 6.62%, with a payout ratio of 124.22%.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new stake in Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 216,686 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $6,423,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.20% of Highwoods Properties at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Choreo LLC raised its stake in Highwoods Properties by 17.1% in the first quarter. Choreo LLC now owns 14,976 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $444,000 after purchasing an additional 2,189 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Highwoods Properties by 14.0% in the 1st quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 981,140 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $29,081,000 after buying an additional 120,568 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA raised its position in shares of Highwoods Properties by 87.4% in the 1st quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 6,118,701 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $181,358,000 after buying an additional 2,852,877 shares in the last quarter. Cerity Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Highwoods Properties by 3.4% during the 1st quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 17,106 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $507,000 after acquiring an additional 560 shares during the period. Finally, POM Investment Strategies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Highwoods Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. 96.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Highwoods Properties Trading Down 1.9%

Highwoods Properties stock traded down $0.56 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $29.69. The stock had a trading volume of 1,007,867 shares, compared to its average volume of 955,218. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $30.75 and its 200-day simple moving average is $29.47. Highwoods Properties, Inc. has a one year low of $24.18 and a one year high of $36.78. The stock has a market cap of $3.20 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.44 and a beta of 1.21. The company has a quick ratio of 1.50, a current ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40.

Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.83 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.01. Highwoods Properties had a return on equity of 7.43% and a net margin of 21.53%. The company had revenue of $200.38 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $201.31 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.89 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was down 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Highwoods Properties, Inc. will post 3.36 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Highwoods Properties Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 18th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 18th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.74%. Highwoods Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 124.22%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on HIW shares. Wall Street Zen upgraded Highwoods Properties from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 30th. Truist Financial lowered Highwoods Properties from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $32.00 price objective on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, July 2nd. Mizuho boosted their target price on Highwoods Properties from $29.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Monday, July 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price target on shares of Highwoods Properties from $35.00 to $31.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 19th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Highwoods Properties currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $32.00.

Highwoods Properties Company Profile

Highwoods Properties, Inc, headquartered in Raleigh, is a publicly-traded NYSE: HIW, fully-integrated office real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, acquires, leases and manages properties primarily in the best business districts (BBDs) of Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Nashville, Orlando, Raleigh, Richmond and Tampa.