Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) Sets New 52-Week Low - Time to Sell?

Key Points

• Saul Centers, Inc. reached a new 52-week low of $31.15 during trading, with the stock last trading at $31.59.
• The company reported earnings per share of $0.73 for the last quarter, missing analysts' expectations of $0.75, with revenue also falling short at $69.43 million.
• Saul Centers declared a quarterly dividend of $0.59 per share, yielding approximately 7.5%, with a significant payout ratio of 178.79%.

Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $31.15 and last traded at $31.59, with a volume of 10438 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $31.62.

Saul Centers Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $767.66 million, a P/E ratio of 23.86 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.16, a current ratio of 1.28 and a quick ratio of 1.28. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $32.81 and a two-hundred day moving average of $33.73.

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.73 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.75 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $69.43 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $71.39 million. Saul Centers had a net margin of 15.51% and a return on equity of 13.79%. On average, analysts predict that Saul Centers, Inc. will post 3.14 EPS for the current year.

Saul Centers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, October 15th will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 7.5%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, October 15th. Saul Centers's payout ratio is 178.79%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Saul Centers

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its position in shares of Saul Centers by 853.2% in the 2nd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 734 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 657 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Saul Centers in the second quarter valued at $27,000. CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Saul Centers by 105.3% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 848 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares in the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in Saul Centers by 349.2% in the 2nd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 867 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 674 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new position in Saul Centers in the 2nd quarter valued at $69,000. 49.99% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Saul Centers Company Profile

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.

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