Analysts Set Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE:ELS) Price Target at $69.27

Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc. (NYSE:ELS) has been given an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the seventeen analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, six have given a hold recommendation, nine have given a buy recommendation and one has assigned a strong buy recommendation to the company. The average 12-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $69.2679.

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays dropped their target price on shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties from $71.00 to $68.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, May 11th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $72.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 15th. Zelman & Associates assumed coverage on shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties in a research report on Monday, March 16th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $59.25 target price on the stock. Mizuho assumed coverage on shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $72.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties from $73.00 to $74.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, April 22nd.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Equity Lifestyle Properties news, Director David J. Contis sold 3,000 shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $67.22, for a total transaction of $201,660.00. Following the transaction, the director directly owned 14,890 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,000,905.80. The trade was a 16.77% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 0.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Equity Lifestyle Properties

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Empowered Funds LLC raised its stake in Equity Lifestyle Properties by 3.5% during the fourth quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 5,055 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $306,000 after purchasing an additional 169 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in Equity Lifestyle Properties by 30.3% during the first quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 735 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 171 shares during the period. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC raised its stake in Equity Lifestyle Properties by 0.4% during the fourth quarter. Northwestern Mutual Investment Management Company LLC now owns 43,367 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,628,000 after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in Equity Lifestyle Properties by 3.7% during the third quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 4,948 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $300,000 after purchasing an additional 178 shares during the period. Finally, Fifth Third Bancorp increased its position in shares of Equity Lifestyle Properties by 3.5% during the first quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 5,561 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $347,000 after acquiring an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. 97.21% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Equity Lifestyle Properties Stock Down 0.7%

ELS stock opened at $61.82 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $11.99 billion, a PE ratio of 30.91, a P/E/G ratio of 3.76 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a quick ratio of 0.04 and a current ratio of 0.04. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $63.32 and its 200 day moving average is $63.58. Equity Lifestyle Properties has a one year low of $58.15 and a one year high of $69.00.

Equity Lifestyle Properties (NYSE:ELS) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.56 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.84 by ($0.28). The firm had revenue of $397.62 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $395.71 million. Equity Lifestyle Properties had a net margin of 24.99% and a return on equity of 21.22%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.57 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Equity Lifestyle Properties will post 3.18 EPS for the current year.

Equity Lifestyle Properties Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 26th will be paid a $0.5425 dividend. This represents a $2.17 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 26th. Equity Lifestyle Properties’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 108.50%.

About Equity Lifestyle Properties

Equity Lifestyle Properties, Inc (NYSE: ELS) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust specializing in the acquisition, development, ownership and operation of manufactured home communities and recreational vehicle resorts. The company’s portfolio includes more than 450 properties across the United States and Canada, serving over 200,000 residents and visitors. ELS organizes its operations into two primary segments: manufactured housing communities, which provide long-term housing solutions, and upscale RV and seasonal resorts designed for leisure travelers and seasonal patrons.

In its manufactured home division, ELS offers home-site leases combined with community amenities such as landscaped common areas, clubhouses, swimming pools and organized resident events.