Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR - Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the eighteen brokerages that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Nine equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year target price among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $78.51.

Several research analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com upgraded Equity Residential from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 8th. Stifel Nicolaus set a $82.25 target price on shares of Equity Residential in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Truist Financial raised their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $76.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $83.00 to $79.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 24th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $74.00 to $76.00 and gave the stock an "in-line" rating in a research report on Monday, February 10th.

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Equity Residential Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE:EQR traded down $0.26 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $71.31. The company had a trading volume of 1,374,224 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,577,165. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.36 and a quick ratio of 0.36. Equity Residential has a one year low of $59.48 and a one year high of $78.84. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $70.90 and a 200 day moving average price of $72.56. The company has a market capitalization of $27.08 billion, a PE ratio of 26.22, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.91.

Equity Residential Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 17th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.6925 per share. This is a positive change from Equity Residential's previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Equity Residential's payout ratio is 101.84%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO Ian Kaufman sold 642 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.06, for a total transaction of $46,262.52. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 25,539 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Scott Fenster sold 5,340 shares of Equity Residential stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 approximately $2,558,634.42. The trade was a 13.07 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 19,763 shares of company stock worth $1,424,217. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Equity Residential

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vert Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 7.5% during the 4th quarter. Vert Asset Management LLC now owns 150,245 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $10,782,000 after buying an additional 10,472 shares in the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Equity Residential during the third quarter worth approximately $923,000. Atomi Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 8.3% in the 4th quarter. Atomi Financial Group Inc. now owns 3,707 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $266,000 after acquiring an additional 284 shares during the last quarter. Mission Wealth Management LP purchased a new stake in shares of Equity Residential in the 4th quarter valued at $321,000. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank grew its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 119.8% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 483,753 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $34,714,000 after purchasing an additional 263,622 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.68% of the company's stock.

Equity Residential Company Profile

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.