Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) Hits New 12-Month Low - Here's What Happened

Key Points

• Saul Centers shares hit a new 52-week low, trading at $29.09 versus the prior close of $29.43. The stock’s 50-day and 200-day moving averages were $31.88 and $33.99, respectively.
• Analyst sentiment remains cautious: Weiss Ratings downgraded the REIT from “hold (c)” to “hold (c-),” while the broader analyst consensus is “Hold.”
• Saul Centers declared a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share, equivalent to $2.36 annually and an 8.1% yield, though its payout ratio is high at 243.30%.

Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Thursday. The stock traded as low as $29.09 and last traded at $29.09, with a volume of 78,654 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $29.43.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Separately, Weiss Ratings downgraded Saul Centers from a "hold (c)" rating to a "hold (c-)" rating in a research report on Thursday, October 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold".

Saul Centers Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.64, a current ratio of 1.62 and a quick ratio of 1.62. The company has a market capitalization of $719.51 million, a P/E ratio of 30.03 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $31.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $33.99.

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, August 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.24 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.14 by $0.10. Saul Centers had a return on equity of 11.97% and a net margin of 11.54%. The business had revenue of $72.80 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $78.98 million.

Saul Centers Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, October 15th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.1%. Saul Centers's payout ratio is presently 243.30%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Saul Centers

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. State Street Corp raised its stake in Saul Centers by 9.9% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 570,914 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $21,346,000 after buying an additional 51,504 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Saul Centers during the 2nd quarter valued at about $425,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the second quarter worth about $271,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its stake in Saul Centers by 1,758.0% during the second quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 19,063 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $713,000 after buying an additional 18,037 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio bought a new position in shares of Saul Centers in the 2nd quarter valued at about $556,000. Institutional investors own 49.99% of the company's stock.

Saul Centers Company Profile

Saul Centers, Inc is a self-managed and self-administered real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, operates and manages income-producing commercial real estate. The company focuses primarily on shopping centers, including grocery-anchored and neighborhood retail properties, as well as mixed-use developments that combine retail, residential and office space.

Founded in 1993, Saul Centers has built a portfolio concentrated in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area and surrounding Mid-Atlantic markets, including Maryland and Virginia.

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