Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW) Hits New 12-Month Low – Should You Sell?

Highwoods Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HIW)’s share price reached a new 52-week low on Friday . The stock traded as low as $20.45 and last traded at $20.6030, with a volume of 983280 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $21.05.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a “buy” rating and set a $27.00 target price on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Thursday, February 19th. Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Highwoods Properties from $30.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Highwoods Properties from $30.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, February 18th. Finally, Truist Financial cut their price objective on Highwoods Properties from $29.00 to $23.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 17th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have assigned a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $27.78.

Highwoods Properties Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $2.26 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.11 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $23.59 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a current ratio of 1.41.

Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 10th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.84 by ($0.58). The business had revenue of $203.36 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $208.08 million. Highwoods Properties had a return on equity of 6.86% and a net margin of 20.10%.Highwoods Properties’s revenue for the quarter was down .9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.85 EPS. Highwoods Properties has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.400-3.680 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Highwoods Properties, Inc. will post 3.36 earnings per share for the current year.

Highwoods Properties Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 17th were paid a dividend of $0.50 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 17th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 9.7%. Highwoods Properties’s dividend payout ratio is currently 136.99%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its holdings in Highwoods Properties by 88.6% in the third quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 792 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 372 shares during the period. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC boosted its holdings in Highwoods Properties by 5.0% in the third quarter. Samalin Investment Counsel LLC now owns 9,075 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $289,000 after acquiring an additional 435 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its stake in shares of Highwoods Properties by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 31,902 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,015,000 after purchasing an additional 443 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank raised its holdings in Highwoods Properties by 1.4% in the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 32,927 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,048,000 after buying an additional 467 shares during the period. Finally, California State Teachers Retirement System raised its holdings in Highwoods Properties by 0.5% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 98,051 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $3,048,000 after buying an additional 489 shares during the period. 96.31% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Highwoods Properties Company Profile

Highwoods Properties, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, leases and manages office properties. The company’s portfolio is primarily focused on Class A office space, with an emphasis on high-quality buildings in key urban and suburban submarkets. Highwoods seeks to generate long-term, recurring revenues through a mix of in-place lease renewals, strategic dispositions and build-to-suit developments. Its asset management platform drives operational efficiencies and tenant service initiatives across its holdings.

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Highwoods Properties has expanded its presence to eight major metropolitan regions across the Southeastern United States and Texas.