VEREIT, Inc. (NYSE:VER) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Stock investors acquired 5,130 put options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 1,651% compared to the average volume of 293 put options.
NYSE VER opened at $41.15 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.42 billion, a PE ratio of 34.29 and a beta of 1.06. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $38.63 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $36.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.68. VEREIT has a 1-year low of $21.90 and a 1-year high of $41.15.
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.462 per share. This represents a $1.85 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.49%. This is a boost from VEREIT’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 30th. VEREIT’s dividend payout ratio is 53.31%.
Several brokerages recently weighed in on VER. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of VEREIT from an “overweight” rating to a “neutral” rating and set a $40.00 target price for the company. in a report on Monday, December 21st. Capital One Financial upgraded VEREIT from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and set a $48.00 target price for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 25th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on VEREIT from $33.75 to $36.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on VEREIT in a research note on Friday, January 22nd. They issued a “sell” rating for the company. Finally, Mizuho lowered shares of VEREIT from a “buy” rating to an “equal weight” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $39.00 to $44.00 in a report on Thursday, March 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. The company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $40.54.
Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Neo Ivy Capital Management bought a new stake in VEREIT in the fourth quarter worth $48,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of VEREIT during the 4th quarter valued at about $58,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC purchased a new stake in shares of VEREIT during the 4th quarter valued at about $72,000. Sterling Financial Planning Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of VEREIT during the 4th quarter valued at about $83,000. Finally, Fortis Group Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of VEREIT in the 3rd quarter valued at about $95,000.
About VEREIT
VEREIT, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which provides real estate investment services. It owns and manages the portfolios of single-tenant commercial properties in the U.S. The company operates through the following segments: Real Estate Investment and Cole Capital. The Real Estate Investment segment acquires, owns and operates single tenant, freestanding, commercial real estate properties, primarily subject to long term net leases with high credit quality tenants.
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