Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW) Issues Quarterly Earnings Results

Highwoods Properties (NYSE:HIW) issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday. The real estate investment trust reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.13 by $0.16, Zacks reports. Highwoods Properties had a net margin of 20.10% and a return on equity of 6.86%. The firm had revenue of $214.03 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $209.06 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.83 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.8% on a year-over-year basis. Highwoods Properties updated its FY 2026 guidance to 3.400-3.68 EPS.

Highwoods Properties Stock Up 2.7%

NYSE HIW traded up $0.64 on Thursday, hitting $24.37. 609,825 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,376,591. The company has a current ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.51. The company has a market cap of $2.69 billion, a PE ratio of 16.67 and a beta of 1.05. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $22.40 and a 200-day moving average of $25.38. Highwoods Properties has a 12 month low of $20.45 and a 12 month high of $32.76.

Highwoods Properties Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 9th. Investors of record on Monday, May 18th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.2%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, May 18th. Highwoods Properties’s payout ratio is presently 136.99%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Highwoods Properties

Several institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in HIW. Corient Private Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of Highwoods Properties by 9.9% in the 4th quarter. Corient Private Wealth LLC now owns 44,286 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,137,000 after buying an additional 3,996 shares during the period. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Highwoods Properties during the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,017,000. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Highwoods Properties by 29.3% during the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 419,028 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $10,819,000 after buying an additional 94,858 shares during the period. Tudor Investment Corp ET AL bought a new position in Highwoods Properties in the fourth quarter worth approximately $5,631,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC boosted its holdings in Highwoods Properties by 18.5% in the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 86,845 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,242,000 after acquiring an additional 13,537 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.31% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research firms have recently weighed in on HIW. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Highwoods Properties from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $24.00 to $23.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 31st. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Highwoods Properties in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Mizuho decreased their price target on Highwoods Properties from $30.00 to $25.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 24th. Wall Street Zen raised Highwoods Properties from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Monday, March 23rd. Finally, Citigroup dropped their price objective on Highwoods Properties from $30.00 to $24.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Highwoods Properties presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $27.67.

Highwoods Properties declared that its board has initiated a share buyback plan on Wednesday, April 22nd that authorizes the company to buyback $250.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the real estate investment trust to buy up to 9.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock buyback plans are often a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Highwoods Properties Company Profile

Highwoods Properties, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, develops, leases and manages office properties. The company’s portfolio is primarily focused on Class A office space, with an emphasis on high-quality buildings in key urban and suburban submarkets. Highwoods seeks to generate long-term, recurring revenues through a mix of in-place lease renewals, strategic dispositions and build-to-suit developments. Its asset management platform drives operational efficiencies and tenant service initiatives across its holdings.

Founded in 1970 and headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina, Highwoods Properties has expanded its presence to eight major metropolitan regions across the Southeastern United States and Texas.