Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) Shares Acquired by UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC

UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC increased its holdings in shares of Equity Residential (NYSE:EQR) by 806.4% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 4,259,145 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,789,234 shares during the quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC’s holdings in Equity Residential were worth $317,136,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Maryland Capital Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Equity Residential during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in Equity Residential in the third quarter valued at $33,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in Equity Residential by 2,529.4% in the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 447 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 430 shares during the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in Equity Residential by 69.6% in the third quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 475 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $35,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its holdings in shares of Equity Residential by 41.9% during the second quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 525 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. 92.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Equity Residential Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EQR opened at $76.67 on Friday. The company’s fifty day moving average is $74.10 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.13 and a current ratio of 0.13. The firm has a market capitalization of $29.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 31.42, a PEG ratio of 6.28 and a beta of 0.90. Equity Residential has a one year low of $56.40 and a one year high of $78.83.

Equity Residential Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 11th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 24th were given a dividend of $0.675 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, September 24th. This represents a $2.70 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.52%. Equity Residential’s payout ratio is currently 110.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

EQR has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut Equity Residential from an “overweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and upped their target price for the company from $69.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Monday, August 26th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Equity Residential in a research report on Wednesday, September 4th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $81.00 target price on the stock. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Equity Residential from $75.00 to $76.00 and gave the company an “in-line” rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upgraded shares of Equity Residential from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the stock from $62.00 to $83.00 in a research note on Tuesday, September 10th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Equity Residential from $68.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Eleven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $77.25.

About Equity Residential

Equity Residential is committed to creating communities where people thrive. The Company, a member of the S&P 500, is focused on the acquisition, development and management of residential properties located in and around dynamic cities that attract affluent long-term renters. Equity Residential owns or has investments in 305 properties consisting of 80,683 apartment units, with an established presence in Boston, New York, Washington, DC, Seattle, San Francisco and Southern California, and an expanding presence in Denver, Atlanta, Dallas/Ft.