Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) Shares Sold by Guggenheim Capital LLC

Guggenheim Capital LLC decreased its position in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR - Free Report) by 76.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 33,421 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after selling 109,263 shares during the period. Guggenheim Capital LLC's holdings in Equity Residential were worth $2,398,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Equity Residential by 607.8% in the fourth quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 361 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 310 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in shares of Equity Residential in the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Equity Residential by 38.8% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 558 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $40,000 after buying an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its stake in Equity Residential by 109.5% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 551 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 288 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Grove Bank & Trust boosted its position in shares of Equity Residential by 208.1% during the fourth quarter. Grove Bank & Trust now owns 610 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 412 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.68% of the company's stock.

Equity Residential Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of EQR stock traded up $0.57 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $69.50. 1,665,837 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,718,421. Equity Residential has a fifty-two week low of $59.41 and a fifty-two week high of $78.84. The stock's 50 day moving average is $69.64 and its 200-day moving average is $71.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.36, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. The company has a market cap of $26.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.55, a P/E/G ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.85.

Equity Residential Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a $0.6925 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This is a boost from Equity Residential's previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. This represents a $2.77 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.99%. Equity Residential's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 101.84%.

Insider Transactions at Equity Residential

In other Equity Residential news, CAO Ian Kaufman sold 642 shares of the business's 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 sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 25,539 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,840,340.34. The trade was a 2.45 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, COO Michael L. Manelis sold 9,487 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $72.07, for a total value of $683,728.09. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 26,781 shares in the company, valued at $1,930,106.67. This represents a 26.16 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 19,763 shares of company stock worth $1,424,217. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

EQR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on 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. Truist Financial boosted their price target on Equity Residential from $76.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Scotiabank raised their price objective on Equity Residential from $78.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Friday, February 14th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Equity Residential from $78.00 to $74.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Equity Residential from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday, February 8th. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Equity Residential presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $79.01.

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.