Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) Hits New 12-Month High – Time to Buy?

Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR)’s stock price hit a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $16.61 and last traded at $16.5960, with a volume of 369193 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $16.26.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on WSR. Citigroup restated a “market outperform” rating on shares of Whitestone REIT in a research note on Tuesday, January 6th. Maxim Group reiterated a “hold” rating on shares of Whitestone REIT in a research note on Monday, March 2nd. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “buy (b-)” rating on shares of Whitestone REIT in a report on Monday, December 29th. Truist Financial increased their price target on shares of Whitestone REIT from $16.00 to $17.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 4th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH began coverage on shares of Whitestone REIT in a report on Tuesday, January 13th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $17.00 price target on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating and one has assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $16.80.

Whitestone REIT Stock Up 0.1%

The company has a 50-day moving average of $14.79 and a 200-day moving average of $13.56. The company has a current ratio of 0.98, a quick ratio of 1.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39. The company has a market capitalization of $835.63 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.12 and a beta of 0.77.

Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.43 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.15. The business had revenue of $43.92 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $41.27 million. Whitestone REIT had a return on equity of 11.23% and a net margin of 31.04%.Whitestone REIT has set its FY 2026 guidance at 1.100-1.140 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Whitestone REIT will post 0.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whitestone REIT Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 16th will be paid a dividend of $0.1425 per share. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 16th. Whitestone REIT’s payout ratio is presently 60.00%.

Whitestone REIT announced that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Friday, December 19th that permits the company to buyback $50.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization permits the real estate investment trust to reacquire up to 7.2% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are generally an indication that the company’s board believes its shares are undervalued.

About Whitestone REIT

Whitestone REIT is a real estate investment trust headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, that specializes in the acquisition, development and management of retail and mixed-use properties. The company’s portfolio is concentrated in high-growth Texas markets, including the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, Houston, Austin and San Antonio, where it primarily owns open-air neighborhood and community shopping centers. Whitestone REIT focuses on convenience- and necessity-based retail, partnering with grocers, fitness operators, service providers and other essential tenants to drive consistent foot traffic and stable occupancy.

In addition to property ownership, Whitestone REIT provides asset and property management services, leasing expertise and development capabilities.