Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) Stock Holdings Boosted by Vert Asset Management LLC

Vert Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) by 7.5% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 150,245 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after buying an additional 10,472 shares during the quarter. Equity Residential accounts for 3.7% of Vert Asset Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 10th largest position. Vert Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Equity Residential were worth $10,782,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in Equity Residential during the third quarter worth $25,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new stake in shares of Equity Residential during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Brooklyn Investment Group acquired a new position in shares of Equity Residential during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its stake in Equity Residential by 2,529.4% in the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 447 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 430 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in Equity Residential by 69.6% in the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 475 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.68% of the company’s stock.

Equity Residential Stock Up 2.8 %

Shares of NYSE:EQR opened at $70.16 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.62 billion, a PE ratio of 28.75, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.36 and a beta of 0.93. Equity Residential has a 1 year low of $57.33 and a 1 year high of $78.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a current ratio of 0.13 and a quick ratio of 0.13. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $72.00 and its two-hundred day moving average is $72.65.

Equity Residential Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 2nd were given a $0.675 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, January 2nd. This represents a $2.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.85%. Equity Residential’s dividend payout ratio is presently 110.66%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently weighed in on EQR. Mizuho decreased their target price on Equity Residential from $78.00 to $74.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $77.00 to $75.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday. 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. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $83.00 to $79.00 and set an “outperform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, Scotiabank decreased their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $81.00 to $78.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Eleven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $78.36.

About Equity Residential

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.