Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) Downgraded by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Wednesday morning.

Separately, B. Riley assumed coverage on Saul Centers in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. They issued a buy rating and a $43.50 price objective on the stock.

Saul Centers Price Performance

BFS stock opened at $35.98 on Wednesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $862.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.80 and a beta of 1.08. 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 52-week low of $32.13 and a 52-week high of $41.04. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $36.97 and a 200-day moving average price of $37.42.

Saul Centers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, April 15th were given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.56%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, April 12th. Saul Centers’s dividend payout ratio is currently 136.42%.

Insider Activity at Saul Centers

In related news, Director James Page Lansdale sold 5,502 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $37.89, for a total transaction of $208,470.78. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 1,298 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $49,181.22. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director James Page Lansdale sold 5,502 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated 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 $49,181.22. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO B Francis Saul II bought 8,600 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 6th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $37.80 per share, for a total transaction of $325,080.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 146,706 shares in the company, valued at $5,545,486.80. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. 56.57% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BFS. LSV Asset Management purchased a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the 3rd quarter worth $99,000. SG Americas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the 3rd quarter valued at about $137,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Saul Centers during the third quarter worth $239,000. Louisiana State Employees Retirement System acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the fourth quarter valued at about $255,000. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund acquired a new position in shares of 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.