Analysts Anticipate Saul Centers Inc (BFS) Will Post Earnings of $0.81 Per Share

Analysts expect Saul Centers Inc (NYSE:BFS) to announce earnings per share of $0.81 for the current fiscal quarter, Zacks reports. Four analysts have provided estimates for Saul Centers’ earnings. The highest EPS estimate is $0.82 and the lowest is $0.80. Saul Centers posted earnings per share of $0.87 in the same quarter last year, which would suggest a negative year-over-year growth rate of 6.9%. The business is expected to issue its next quarterly earnings report on Thursday, May 3rd.

On average, analysts expect that Saul Centers will report full-year earnings of $3.23 per share for the current year, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.22 to $3.24. For the next year, analysts forecast that the business will post earnings of $3.40 per share, with EPS estimates ranging from $3.37 to $3.44. Zacks’ earnings per share averages are a mean average based on a survey of research firms that follow Saul Centers.

Saul Centers (NYSE:BFS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.77 by ($0.39). Saul Centers had a net margin of 21.23% and a return on equity of 23.40%. The business had revenue of $56.68 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $55.50 million.

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on BFS shares. Zacks Investment Research lowered Saul Centers from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, March 23rd. DA Davidson set a $55.00 price target on Saul Centers and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Monday, March 5th. Finally, B. Riley started coverage on Saul Centers in a research note on Thursday, April 5th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $54.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Saul Centers presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $54.50.

Shares of BFS traded down $0.88 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $49.52. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 24,041 shares, compared to its average volume of 33,959. Saul Centers has a one year low of $48.09 and a one year high of $65.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.50, a quick ratio of 2.81 and a current ratio of 2.81. The firm has a market cap of $1,105.50, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.57, a PEG ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.66.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 16th will be paid a $0.52 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 13th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.20%. Saul Centers’s payout ratio is 65.41%.

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. MetLife Investment Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Saul Centers during the 4th quarter worth $334,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in Saul Centers by 50.8% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 37,885 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,339,000 after acquiring an additional 12,762 shares during the last quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC grew its position in Saul Centers by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Teachers Advisors LLC now owns 164,293 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $10,145,000 after acquiring an additional 3,377 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in Saul Centers by 110.4% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 29,417 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,815,000 after acquiring an additional 15,435 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jefferies Group LLC bought a new stake in Saul Centers during the 4th quarter worth $284,000. Institutional investors own 46.49% of the company’s stock.

About Saul Centers

Saul Centers, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust. The Company’s principal business activity is the ownership, management and development of income-producing properties. It operates through two segments: Shopping Centers and Mixed-Use Properties. The Company, which conducts all of its activities through its subsidiaries, the Saul Holdings Limited Partnership (Operating Partnership) and Subsidiary Partnerships, engages in the ownership, operation, management, leasing, acquisition, renovation, expansion, development and financing of community and neighborhood shopping centers and mixed-used properties in the Washington, District of Columbia/Baltimore metropolitan area.

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