Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE:ELS) Reaches New 52-Week Low - Time to Sell?

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE:ELS - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $58.86 and last traded at $60.84, with a volume of 255244 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $61.79.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Equity LifeStyle Properties in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. They set a "buy" rating and a $80.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Equity LifeStyle Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $66.00 to $73.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Truist Financial raised shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, January 17th. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties from $74.00 to $73.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upgraded shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties from a "market perform" rating to an "outperform" rating and set a $78.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, April 4th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $74.20.

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Equity LifeStyle Properties Price Performance

The company has a market cap of $12.37 billion, a PE ratio of 33.18, a PEG ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.72. The firm's 50-day moving average is $66.59 and its 200-day moving average is $67.83. The company has a quick ratio of 0.03, a current ratio of 0.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15.

Equity LifeStyle Properties (NYSE:ELS - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Monday, January 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.76 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.76. Equity LifeStyle Properties had a return on equity of 23.12% and a net margin of 24.05%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc. will post 3.07 EPS for the current year.

Equity LifeStyle Properties Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 28th were given a dividend of $0.515 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 28th. This represents a $2.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.18%. This is a positive change from Equity LifeStyle Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. Equity LifeStyle Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 105.64%.

Institutional Trading of Equity LifeStyle Properties

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. National Pension Service bought a new stake in Equity LifeStyle Properties during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties by 121.4% in the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 383 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties in the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. Board of the Pension Protection Fund purchased a new stake in shares of Equity LifeStyle Properties in the 4th quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in Equity LifeStyle Properties by 43.5% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 564 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 171 shares in the last quarter. 97.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Equity LifeStyle Properties

Equity LifeStyle Properties, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which engages in the ownership and operation of lifestyle-oriented properties consisting primarily of manufactured home, and recreational vehicle communities. It operates through the following segments: Property Operations and Home Sales and Rentals Operations.