Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. Trims Stake in Brixmor Property Group Inc. (NYSE:BRX)

Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. lessened its stake in Brixmor Property Group Inc. (NYSE:BRX) by 41.2% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 450,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after selling 315,000 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C.’s holdings in Brixmor Property Group were worth $12,528,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. V Square Quantitative Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Brixmor Property Group in the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC raised its position in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 124.9% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 938 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 521 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Brixmor Property Group during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. UMB Bank n.a. grew its position in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 73.5% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,636 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 693 shares during the period. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Brixmor Property Group by 140.9% in the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,949 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $54,000 after purchasing an additional 1,140 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.43% of the company’s stock.

Brixmor Property Group Price Performance

BRX stock opened at $25.83 on Monday. Brixmor Property Group Inc. has a 1 year low of $21.32 and a 1 year high of $30.67. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 1.16 and a quick ratio of 1.16. The firm has a market capitalization of $7.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.27, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 1.30. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $25.92 and a 200-day simple moving average of $27.15.

Brixmor Property Group (NYSE:BRX) last issued its earnings results on Monday, February 10th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.22 by $0.31. Brixmor Property Group had a return on equity of 11.72% and a net margin of 26.40%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Brixmor Property Group Inc. will post 2.22 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Brixmor Property Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, April 2nd were paid a dividend of $0.2875 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, April 2nd. This is an increase from Brixmor Property Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.15 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.45%. Brixmor Property Group’s payout ratio is 103.60%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have commented on BRX shares. Jefferies Financial Group raised Brixmor Property Group from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price objective for the company from $28.00 to $33.00 in a report on Friday, February 14th. Evercore ISI raised shares of Brixmor Property Group from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and set a $31.00 price target for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 11th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on shares of Brixmor Property Group from $27.00 to $26.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, March 26th. Mizuho dropped their target price on shares of Brixmor Property Group from $31.00 to $29.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of Brixmor Property Group from $32.00 to $30.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $30.48.

About Brixmor Property Group

Brixmor Property Group, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in owning and operating a portfolio of grocery anchored community and neighborhood shopping centers. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in New York, NY.