StockNews.com Downgrades Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) to Hold

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) was downgraded by equities research analysts at StockNews.com from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Separately, B. Riley boosted their price target on shares of Saul Centers from $43.50 to $45.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, August 22nd.

Saul Centers Price Performance

BFS traded down $1.65 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $38.52. 60,551 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 51,532. Saul Centers has a 12-month low of $34.87 and a 12-month high of $42.39. The company’s 50-day moving average is $40.24 and its two-hundred day moving average is $39.32. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61. The company has a market cap of $931.07 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.93 and a beta of 1.11.

Institutional Trading of Saul Centers

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BFS. Millennium Management LLC purchased a new stake in Saul Centers in the second quarter worth approximately $3,272,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Saul Centers by 115.0% in the 2nd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 59,675 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,194,000 after acquiring an additional 31,919 shares during the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC bought a new stake in shares of Saul Centers in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,060,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Saul Centers by 149.6% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 40,512 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,700,000 after purchasing an additional 24,281 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in shares of Saul Centers by 10.2% during the 2nd quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 228,474 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $8,401,000 after purchasing an additional 21,100 shares during the last quarter. 49.99% of the stock is 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.