Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS) Short Interest Update

Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS) was the recipient of a large decline in short interest in October. As of October 31st, there was short interest totalling 86,600 shares, a decline of 8.4% from the October 15th total of 94,500 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 49,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.7 days. Approximately 0.7% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently commented on BFS shares. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Saul Centers from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, November 8th. B. Riley increased their price objective 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.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Saul Centers

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hillsdale Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Saul Centers in the first quarter valued at about $1,293,000. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers in the 2nd quarter worth $597,000. Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC purchased a new position in Saul Centers during the 2nd quarter worth $228,000. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC increased its position 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 valued at $334,000 after buying an additional 3,255 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sargent Investment Group LLC raised its stake in Saul Centers by 315.0% in the third quarter. Sargent Investment Group LLC now owns 25,001 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,049,000 after buying an additional 18,976 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 49.99% of the company’s stock.

Saul Centers Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BFS traded down $0.20 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $39.18. 1,963 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 52,649. The company has a market cap of $946.98 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.40 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.13. Saul Centers has a 52-week low of $34.87 and a 52-week high of $42.39. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $40.42 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.75.

Saul Centers Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, October 15th were paid a $0.59 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, October 15th. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.02%. Saul Centers’s payout ratio is currently 128.26%.

Saul Centers Company 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.