Analysts Have Conflicting Sentiments on These Financial Companies: Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT) and Saul Centers (NYSE: BFS)

Analysts have been eager to weigh in on the Financial sector with new ratings on Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT) and Saul Centers (NYSE: BFS).

Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT)

In a report released today, Bryan Maher from B.Riley FBR reiterated a Buy rating on Hospitality Properties (NYSE: HPT), with a price target of $32. The company’s shares opened today at $27.59.

Maher said:

“Hospitality Properties Trust (HPT) posted very solid 1Q18 results that exceeded our expectations and consensus, despite having 23 hotels under renovation. Adjusted EBITDA came in at $203.0M, up 4.3% Y/Y , above our estimate of $199.9M and consensus $197.9M. Normalized FFO/share came in at $0.94, also above our estimate of $0.93 and in line with consensus $0.94. Comparable RevPAR increased 2.0%, driven by a 1.8% ADR increase, while occupancy increased 0.1% to 71.6%. HPT made no acquisitions or dispositions during the quarter. Within its travel center segment (TA), gross margin improved $29.8M, or 10.8%, boosted by a biodiesel fuel tax credit that was retroactively passed in 1Q18 for 2017.”

According to TipRanks.com, Maher is a 2-star analyst with an average return of 1.1% and a 54.5% success rate. Maher covers the Financial sector, focusing on stocks such as Government Properties Income Trust, Senior Housing Properties Trust, and Condor Hospitality Trust Inc.

Hospitality Properties has an analyst consensus of Moderate Buy, with a price target consensus of $27.60.

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Saul Centers (NYSE: BFS)

In a report released today, Craig Kucera from B.Riley FBR assigned a Hold rating to Saul Centers (NYSE: BFS), with a price target of $54. The company’s shares opened today at $49.88, close to its 52-week low of $48.09.

Kucera wrote:

“We are reducing our earnings estimates for Neutral-rated Saul Centers, Inc. (BFS) post 1Q18 results, with our 2018E FFO declining from $3.19 to $3.12 and our 2019 falling from $3.44 to $3.41, while we are maintaining our $54 price target. BFS owns a portfolio of high-quality (class A) community and neighborhood shopping centers and office/mixed-use assets located predominantly in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area (inclusive of suburban Virginia and Maryland), as well as in the Baltimore MSA. While growth in D.C. has been slower than in many other markets in recent years (equating to SS NOI growth that has underperformed the shopping center average by ~70 bps over the past five years), we anticipate improving fundamentals in 2018, given an accelerating D.C. economy.”

According to TipRanks.com, Kucera is a 3-star analyst with an average return of 2.4% and a 56.1% success rate. Kucera covers the Financial sector, focusing on stocks such as Wheeler Real Estate ate Investment Trust Inc, Preferred Apartment Communities, and NexPoint Residential Trust Inc.

Saul Centers has an analyst consensus of Hold, with a price target consensus of $54.50.

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