Lasalle Investment Management Securities LLC Increases Stake in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR)

Lasalle Investment Management Securities LLC boosted its position in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR - Free Report) by 79.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,161,137 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after buying an additional 512,723 shares during the period. Equity Residential makes up approximately 3.5% of Lasalle Investment Management Securities LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 11th largest holding. Lasalle Investment Management Securities LLC owned 0.31% of Equity Residential worth $83,323,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

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

Equity Residential Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE EQR traded up $0.57 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $69.50. The company had a trading volume of 1,665,837 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,715,377. 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 stock has a market capitalization of $26.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.55, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.85. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $69.64 and a 200 day moving average of $71.34. Equity Residential has a 1-year low of $59.41 and a 1-year high of $78.84.

Equity Residential Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity at Equity Residential

In related news, EVP Scott Fenster sold 5,340 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.06, for a total value of $384,800.40. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 35,507 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,558,634.42. The trade was a 13.07 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CAO Ian Kaufman sold 642 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $72.06, for a total value of $46,262.52. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 19,763 shares of company stock worth $1,424,217. Insiders own 1.00% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently issued reports on EQR shares. StockNews.com upgraded Equity Residential from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target 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. Mizuho decreased their price objective on Equity Residential from $78.00 to $74.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 6th. Barclays reduced their target price 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 boosted their price target 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. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Equity Residential presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $79.01.

Equity Residential 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.