Aviva PLC Has $14.86 Million Stake in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR)

Aviva PLC raised its position in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR - Free Report) by 1,336.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 207,025 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after buying an additional 192,609 shares during the period. Aviva PLC owned approximately 0.05% of Equity Residential worth $14,856,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Keybank National Association OH raised its position in shares of Equity Residential by 2.0% in the 4th quarter. Keybank National Association OH now owns 7,001 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $502,000 after purchasing an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc boosted its stake in Equity Residential by 25.3% during the 4th quarter. AdvisorNet Financial Inc now owns 722 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $52,000 after acquiring an additional 146 shares during the last quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Equity Residential by 4.1% during the 4th quarter. Transamerica Financial Advisors Inc. now owns 3,827 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $275,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Equity Residential by 38.8% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 558 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC raised its stake in Equity Residential by 4.0% during the fourth quarter. Frank Rimerman Advisors LLC now owns 5,604 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $402,000 after buying an additional 218 shares in the last quarter. 92.68% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Ian Kaufman sold 642 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.06, for a total value of $46,262.52. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 25,539 shares in the company, valued at $1,840,340.34. This trade represents a 2.45 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Scott Fenster sold 5,340 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.06, for a total transaction of $384,800.40. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 35,507 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,558,634.42. This trade represents a 13.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 19,763 shares of company stock worth $1,424,217. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Equity Residential Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE EQR traded up $0.35 during trading on Friday, hitting $64.62. 2,335,777 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,717,348. Equity Residential has a 12 month low of $59.41 and a 12 month high of $78.84. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $70.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $71.62. The company has a market capitalization of $24.54 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.76, a PEG ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72.

Equity Residential Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a $0.6925 dividend. This represents a $2.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.29%. This is an increase from Equity Residential's previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Equity Residential's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 101.84%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EQR has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $83.00 to $79.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Mizuho cut their price target on Equity Residential from $78.00 to $74.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. StockNews.com raised Equity Residential from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Saturday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $78.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $78.51.

About Equity Residential

Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 305 properties consisting of 80,683 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft.