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

Shares of Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) hit a new 52-week high on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $19.01 and last traded at $19.0150, with a volume of 130092 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $18.99.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WSR has been the topic of a number of research reports. Maxim Group reissued a “hold” rating on shares of Whitestone REIT in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Weiss Ratings reissued a “buy (b)” rating on shares of Whitestone REIT in a report on Tuesday, April 14th. Citizens Jmp lowered Whitestone REIT from a “market outperform” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Cantor Fitzgerald lowered Whitestone REIT from a “strong-buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, April 10th. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered Whitestone REIT from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, April 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and nine have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $17.50.

Whitestone REIT Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $975.64 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.78 and a beta of 0.80. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $18.02 and a 200 day moving average of $15.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.39, a current ratio of 1.34 and a quick ratio of 1.34.

Whitestone REIT (NYSE:WSR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.43 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.28 by $0.15. The firm had revenue of $43.92 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $41.27 million. Whitestone REIT had a return on equity of 11.12% and a net margin of 30.67%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Whitestone REIT will post 1.13 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Whitestone REIT Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 29th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, June 17th will be issued a $0.1425 dividend. This represents a $0.57 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, June 17th. Whitestone REIT’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 59.38%.

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.