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

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

Separately, B. Riley initiated coverage on shares of Saul Centers in a research report on Thursday, April 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $43.50 price objective for the company.

Saul Centers Stock Performance

BFS opened at $36.36 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $37.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $37.33. Saul Centers has a 1 year low of $32.13 and a 1 year high of $41.04. The stock has a market cap of $871.91 million, a P/E ratio of 21.02 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.34, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13.

Insider Transactions at Saul Centers

In other news, COO David Todd Pearson bought 2,300 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 15th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $36.52 per share, with a total value of $83,996.00. Following the purchase, the chief operating officer now directly owns 6,204 shares in the company, valued at approximately $226,570.08. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In related news, COO David Todd Pearson purchased 2,300 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 15th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $36.52 per share, with a total value of $83,996.00. Following the purchase, the chief operating officer now owns 6,204 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $226,570.08. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed 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 acquired at an average cost of $37.80 per share, for a total transaction of $325,080.00. Following the completion of the purchase, 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. Corporate insiders own 56.57% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Saul Centers

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. State of Tennessee Treasury Department increased its holdings in shares of Saul Centers by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 9,562 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $389,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in Saul Centers by 2.2% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 12,014 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $633,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. increased its holdings in Saul Centers by 2.8% in the 4th quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 11,868 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $466,000 after purchasing an additional 327 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC increased its holdings in Saul Centers by 65.1% in the 1st quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 898 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 354 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its holdings in Saul Centers by 43.9% in the 1st quarter. FMR LLC now owns 1,197 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $47,000 after purchasing an additional 365 shares during the last quarter. 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.