Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS) Shares Sold by Geode Capital Management LLC

Geode Capital Management LLC reduced its stake in Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS) by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 297,689 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after selling 3,215 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 1.23% of Saul Centers worth $12,494,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Saul Centers in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $597,000. Sargent Investment Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Saul Centers by 315.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 25,001 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,049,000 after acquiring an additional 18,976 shares during the last quarter. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new stake in Saul Centers during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $228,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC increased its stake in Saul Centers by 55.9% during the 2nd quarter. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC now owns 9,079 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $334,000 after buying an additional 3,255 shares during the period. Finally, Zacks Investment Management purchased a new stake in Saul Centers during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $702,000. 49.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Saul Centers Price Performance

Shares of BFS opened at $38.65 on Tuesday. Saul Centers, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $34.87 and a fifty-two week high of $42.39. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $39.91 and its 200 day moving average price is $39.45. The company has a market cap of $934.21 million, a P/E ratio of 21.01 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61.

Saul Centers Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, January 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.11%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, January 15th. Saul Centers’s payout ratio is currently 128.26%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Saul Centers from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th.

Saul Centers 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.