Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL) Given Average Rating of “Reduce” by Analysts

Shares of Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Reduce” from the eleven ratings firms that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and eight have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 12 month target price among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $19.0313.

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group set a $3.75 target price on Leslie’s and gave the company a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 3rd. Mizuho set a $5.00 price objective on Leslie’s in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. Morgan Stanley set a $1.50 target price on shares of Leslie’s and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Wall Street Zen lowered shares of Leslie’s from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Sunday, December 28th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group reissued a “market perform” rating and issued a $3.00 price target on shares of Leslie’s in a report on Friday, November 28th.

Leslie’s Stock Down 9.8%

Leslie’s stock opened at $1.20 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $4.32. Leslie’s has a twelve month low of $1.19 and a twelve month high of $46.40. The company has a market capitalization of $11.18 million, a PE ratio of -0.05 and a beta of 1.30.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of LESL. Ariel Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Leslie’s by 4.7% in the 2nd quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 60,903,406 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,573,000 after buying an additional 2,725,991 shares during the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC boosted its holdings in Leslie’s by 61.3% in the second quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 3,570,476 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,499,000 after acquiring an additional 1,356,700 shares in the last quarter. King Street Capital Management L.P. purchased a new position in Leslie’s during the 2nd quarter valued at $630,000. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Leslie’s by 923.6% in the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 1,254,176 shares of the company’s stock worth $922,000 after purchasing an additional 1,131,647 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Man Group plc raised its holdings in Leslie’s by 87.1% in the 2nd quarter. Man Group plc now owns 1,016,078 shares of the company’s stock worth $427,000 after purchasing an additional 473,148 shares in the last quarter.

About Leslie’s

Leslie’s, Inc (NASDAQ: LESL) is the largest direct-to-consumer retailer of swimming pool supplies and related equipment in the United States. Through a network of more than 900 company-operated stores and a robust e-commerce platform, the company offers a comprehensive range of pool chemicals, cleaning tools, pumps, filters, heaters and pool accessories. In addition to product retailing, Leslie’s provides in-store and in-home water testing services, equipment installation, repair and ongoing maintenance programs designed to support both residential and commercial pool owners.

Founded in 1963 in North Miami Beach, Florida, Leslie’s has grown from a single neighborhood pool-supply shop into a national specialty retailer.