Financial investment management solutions provider Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has cut its stake in real estate investment trust (REIT) Apple Hospitality, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company reduced its stake by 5.2% to 131,260 shares during Q4 of 2016. Although small in percentage terms, the divestment overall amounted to $2,071,000 worth of shares out of all Apples shares held by investors globally. Despite this development, several equity analysts have issued positive reports on Apple Hospitality REIT’s position in the market. Wells Fargo and B Riley have both suggested that it is a good time to buy into Apple Hospitality given their current growth trends. Over the last year, Apple has enjoyed market highs of $18.22 per share down to $13.66 indicating relative price volatility and lessening profit margins for investors. With debt-to-equity ratios at 0.49%, there is still value in investing in Apple Hospitality for long-term investors seeking stable returns over time.
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Apple Hospitality REIT: Institutional and Insider Investments Boost Confidence in Growth and Dividend Payouts
Apple Hospitality REIT, a real estate investment trust that owns and operates hotels in the United States, has recently caught the attention of multiple hedge funds. Institutional investors have been increasing their positions in the company over the last quarter, with notable additions being made by LSV Asset Management, State Street Corp, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc., Centersquare Investment Management LLC, and Goldman Sachs Group Inc. These recent purchases reflect a growing interest in Apple Hospitality REIT and its potential for growth.
In addition to institutional investments, some insiders have also been buying shares of Apple Hospitality REIT. Chairman Glade M. Knight purchased 5,000 shares at an average price of $15.50 per share on Friday May 5th. This brings his total ownership to 568,109 shares valued at $8,805,689.50. Other insiders have also purchased shares in the company over the last quarter.
Investors may be attracted to Apple Hospitality REIT’s attractive dividend payout ratio (DPR) of 137.14%. On Monday May 15th, shareholders received a monthly dividend payment of $0.08 per share representing an annualized yield of 6.27%. Shareholders who were on record as of Friday April 28th were eligible for this payout.
The interest shown by institutional investors and insiders alike is an encouraging sign for current shareholders in Apple Hospitality REIT and may attract new investors looking for strong growth potential and steady returns through dividends payouts. As always with investing, careful consideration should be given to all relevant information before making any investment decisions.
