Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) Hits New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Shares of Saul Centers, Inc. (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as low as $34.53 and last traded at $35.13, with a volume of 11463 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $35.68.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com lowered Saul Centers from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Friday, March 7th.

Saul Centers Stock Performance

The company has a current ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.61. The stock has a market capitalization of $807.68 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.14 and a beta of 0.97. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $36.15 and its 200 day moving average price is $38.32.

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.63 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.32 by $0.31. The company had revenue of $67.92 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $68.94 million. Saul Centers had a return on equity of 17.16% and a net margin of 20.84%. Analysts forecast that Saul Centers, Inc. will post 3.14 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Saul Centers Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 15th will be paid a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.07%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 15th. Saul Centers's payout ratio is 144.79%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Saul Centers

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BFS. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company acquired a new stake in shares of Saul Centers in the third quarter valued at $202,000. BNP Paribas Financial Markets boosted its stake in shares of Saul Centers by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 26,451 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $1,110,000 after buying an additional 3,434 shares during the period. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its position in shares of Saul Centers by 30.9% during the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 21,515 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $903,000 after buying an additional 5,073 shares in the last quarter. Jane Street Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Saul Centers by 75.7% during the third quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 34,240 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $1,437,000 after buying an additional 14,755 shares during the period. Finally, Zacks Investment Management acquired a new stake in Saul Centers in the third quarter valued at approximately $702,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 49.99% of the company's stock.

About Saul Centers

Saul Centers is a self-managed, self-administered equity REIT headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland. Saul Centers currently operates and manages a real estate portfolio comprised of 61 properties that includes (a) 57 community and neighborhood Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use properties with approximately 9.8 million square feet of leasable area and (b) four land and development properties.