Zacks Research Issues Pessimistic Forecast for AVB Earnings

AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB) – Analysts at Zacks Research reduced their Q1 2026 EPS estimates for shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst Team now expects that the real estate investment trust will post earnings of $2.82 per share for the quarter, down from their prior forecast of $2.84. The consensus estimate for AvalonBay Communities’ current full-year earnings is $11.48 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for AvalonBay Communities’ Q2 2026 earnings at $2.82 EPS, Q3 2026 earnings at $2.83 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $2.83 EPS, FY2026 earnings at $11.30 EPS, Q1 2027 earnings at $2.89 EPS, Q2 2027 earnings at $2.93 EPS, Q3 2027 earnings at $2.91 EPS, Q4 2027 earnings at $2.98 EPS, FY2027 earnings at $11.72 EPS and FY2028 earnings at $13.66 EPS.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 5th. The real estate investment trust reported $2.85 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.84 by $0.01. AvalonBay Communities had a return on equity of 8.78% and a net margin of 34.57%.The business had revenue of $767.86 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $766.38 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $2.80 earnings per share.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the stock. Colliers Securities restated a “neutral” rating and issued a $195.00 price objective (down from $200.00) on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, December 4th. Evercore reissued an “in-line” rating and issued a $214.00 price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a report on Monday, November 3rd. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $190.00 to $183.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 9th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $213.00 to $193.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Monday, November 10th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada reduced their target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities from $191.00 to $187.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and thirteen have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, AvalonBay Communities has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $200.91.

AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

AVB opened at $179.50 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.13 and a beta of 0.76. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $178.73 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $183.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.79. AvalonBay Communities has a 12-month low of $166.73 and a 12-month high of $230.21.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AVB. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT raised its holdings in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 300.0% in the 4th quarter. Zions Bancorporation National Association UT now owns 160 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Mather Group LLC. acquired a new position in shares of AvalonBay Communities during the third quarter worth approximately $30,000. BOKF NA acquired a new stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities in the third quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Elyxium Wealth LLC bought a new position in AvalonBay Communities in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Clearstead Trust LLC lifted its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 62.0% during the 2nd quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 162 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 62 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.61% of the company’s stock.

AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $1.78 per share. This is an increase from AvalonBay Communities’s previous quarterly dividend of $1.75. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $7.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.0%. AvalonBay Communities’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 85.47%.

Key Headlines Impacting AvalonBay Communities

Here are the key news stories impacting AvalonBay Communities this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Zacks published a FY2028 EPS projection for AvalonBay of $13.66, which implies meaningful earnings growth out a couple years and could support long‑term upside if fundamentals follow. (This is a new forward-year estimate rather than a raise to an existing Zacks number.)
• Neutral Sentiment: AvalonBay announced details for its 2026 annual meeting — a governance/housekeeping item that is unlikely to move the stock materially but keeps the shareholder calendar clear. AvalonBay Communities Announces 2026 Annual Meeting Details
• Neutral Sentiment: Context: AVB reported a slight EPS beat in its most recent quarter (EPS $2.85 vs. $2.84 consensus) and trades at a P/E around 22 with a market cap near $25.4B. Its 50‑day (~$178.7) and 200‑day (~$183.3) moving averages and conservative leverage (debt/equity ~0.79) mean revisions to near‑term earnings tend to weigh on sentiment even if fundamentals remain stable.
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks cut a series of near‑term quarterly and annual EPS estimates across 2026–2027: notable cuts include Q1 2027 (from $2.99 → $2.89), Q2 2027 (3.06 → 2.93), Q3 2027 (3.03 → 2.91), Q4 2027 (3.09 → 2.98) and multiple 2026 quarters trimmed (each down by a few cents). Zacks also trimmed FY2026 (to $11.30 from $11.53) and FY2027 (to $11.72 from $12.18). These downward revisions signal softer near‑term earnings expectations and are the primary driver of negative price pressure today.

About AvalonBay Communities

AvalonBay Communities, Inc (NYSE: AVB) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns, develops, redevelops and manages multifamily residential properties. The company focuses on professionally managed apartment communities, offering a range of rental housing options and related resident services. As a REIT, AvalonBay’s core activities center on the acquisition and development of apartment assets and the ongoing operations and leasing of those communities.

AvalonBay’s operating activities include ground-up development, strategic redevelopment of existing properties, property and asset management, and on-site leasing and resident services.