Vert Asset Management LLC Boosts Holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE)

Vert Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE - Free Report) by 13.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 69,445 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after buying an additional 8,435 shares during the period. Alexandria Real Estate Equities accounts for about 2.3% of Vert Asset Management LLC's holdings, making the stock its 16th biggest holding. Vert Asset Management LLC's holdings in Alexandria Real Estate Equities were worth $6,774,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the third quarter valued at about $25,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the third quarter valued at about $30,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities by 144.0% in the third quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 305 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $36,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, M&R Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in the third quarter valued at about $50,000. 96.54% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Stock Up 1.0 %

ARE stock traded up $0.93 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $96.78. 800,782 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,385,304. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 0.20 and a current ratio of 0.21. Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. has a 1-year low of $94.35 and a 1-year high of $130.14. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $101.55 and its 200 day simple moving average is $111.64. The company has a market cap of $16.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 1.16.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities (NYSE:ARE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, January 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.39 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.91 by $1.48. Alexandria Real Estate Equities had a net margin of 10.36% and a return on equity of 1.43%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. will post 9.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $1.32 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This is a positive change from Alexandria Real Estate Equities's previous quarterly dividend of $1.30. This represents a $5.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.46%. Alexandria Real Estate Equities's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 293.33%.

Alexandria Real Estate Equities declared that its Board of Directors has initiated a share repurchase program on Monday, December 9th that allows the company to buyback $500.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the real estate investment trust to purchase up to 2.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback programs are usually an indication that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

ARE has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from $125.00 to $114.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. Wedbush reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $104.00 price objective on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com lowered shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Wednesday. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market outperform" rating and set a $130.00 target price on shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered shares of Alexandria Real Estate Equities from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and lowered their target price for the stock from $135.00 to $112.00 in a research note on Friday, November 15th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $121.30.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities

Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc NYSE: ARE, an S&P 500 company, is a best-in-class, mission-driven life science REIT making a positive and lasting impact on the world. As the pioneer of the life science real estate niche since our founding in 1994, Alexandria is the preeminent and longest-tenured owner, operator, and developer of collaborative life science, agtech, and advanced technology mega campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, including Greater Boston, the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle.