Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) Downgraded by StockNews.com to “Hold”

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note issued to investors on Friday.

Saul Centers Stock Performance

Shares of Saul Centers stock opened at $37.03 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $896.26 million, a PE ratio of 20.13 and a beta of 1.08. Saul Centers has a 1 year low of $34.98 and a 1 year high of $42.39. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $36.96 and its 200-day simple moving average is $39.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a current ratio of 1.13.

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $67.92 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $68.94 million. Saul Centers had a return on equity of 17.16% and a net margin of 20.84%. Equities analysts forecast that Saul Centers will post 3.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of BFS. Cary Street Partners Financial LLC acquired a new stake in Saul Centers during the fourth quarter worth about $2,549,000. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,398,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Saul Centers by 56.2% in the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 86,974 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $3,375,000 after purchasing an additional 31,308 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCentric Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Saul Centers during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $1,164,000. Finally, Crossingbridge Advisors LLC bought a new position in Saul Centers during the 4th quarter worth $1,164,000. 49.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.