Sophron Capital Management L.P. Makes New Investment in Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR)

Sophron Capital Management L.P. bought a new stake in Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated (NYSE:HR) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 188,291 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $3,192,000. Healthcare Realty Trust comprises approximately 1.3% of Sophron Capital Management L.P.’s portfolio, making the stock its 27th largest holding. Sophron Capital Management L.P. owned 0.05% of Healthcare Realty Trust at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of HR. Starboard Value LP acquired a new position in Healthcare Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at about $342,110,000. Rush Island Management LP raised its stake in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust by 21.2% during the 4th quarter. Rush Island Management LP now owns 15,681,440 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $265,800,000 after purchasing an additional 2,747,848 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp lifted its stake in Healthcare Realty Trust by 12.0% in the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 4,630,973 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $78,495,000 after acquiring an additional 495,599 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Healthcare Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $76,825,000. Finally, Northern Trust Corp lifted its position in shares of Healthcare Realty Trust by 40.3% in the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 4,040,969 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $68,494,000 after buying an additional 1,159,763 shares during the last quarter.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HR has been the subject of a number of research reports. Wedbush dropped their target price on Healthcare Realty Trust from $18.00 to $16.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, May 5th. Scotiabank decreased their price target on shares of Healthcare Realty Trust from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Healthcare Realty Trust from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of Healthcare Realty Trust from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have given a hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $17.00.

Insider Buying and Selling at Healthcare Realty Trust

In related news, Director Thomas N. Bohjalian bought 2,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, May 13th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $14.71 per share, for a total transaction of $36,775.00. Following the purchase, the director now owns 56,502 shares in the company, valued at approximately $831,144.42. This represents a 4.63% increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Healthcare Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of HR stock opened at $15.03 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -8.44 and a beta of 0.92. Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated has a 1 year low of $14.45 and a 1 year high of $18.90. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $15.85 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $16.62.

Healthcare Realty Trust (NYSE:HR) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 1st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.39 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.39. Healthcare Realty Trust had a negative net margin of 51.60% and a negative return on equity of 11.20%. The firm had revenue of $288.86 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $297.39 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.39 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was down 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts anticipate that Healthcare Realty Trust Incorporated will post 1.59 EPS for the current year.

Healthcare Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 23rd. Investors of record on Monday, May 12th will be paid a dividend of $0.31 per share. This represents a $1.24 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 12th. Healthcare Realty Trust’s payout ratio is currently -113.76%.

About Healthcare Realty Trust

Healthcare Realty Trust, Inc provides real estate investment services. It owns, leases, manages, acquires, finances, develops, and redevelops income-producing real estate properties associated primarily with the delivery of outpatient healthcare services throughout the United States of America. The company was founded by David R.