Whipplewood Advisors LLC Invests in Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O)

Whipplewood Advisors LLC has taken a new position in Realty Income Co. (NYSE:O) during the fourth quarter, as indicated in its latest Form 13F filing with the SEC. The investment firm acquired 5,096 shares of the real estate investment trust, with a total value of around $272,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also adjusted their holdings in Realty Income. For example, Parnassus Investments LLC increased its stake by 7.4% in the third quarter, now owning 24,448,225 shares valued at approximately $1.55 billion after purchasing an additional 1,676,293 shares. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its ownership by 1.1%, resulting in a total of 22,815,454 shares worth about $1.45 billion after buying 242,786 shares. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. also boosted its holdings by 5.0%, owning 9,729,229 shares valued at approximately $617 million after an increase of 463,286 shares.

Moreover, UBS Asset Management Americas LLC reported a significant increase of 765.1% in its stake, now holding 7,545,815 shares worth $478 million after acquiring an additional 6,673,617 shares. Finally, the Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its investment by 0.9%, owning 5,847,484 shares valued at $312 million following a purchase of 50,670 shares. Overall, 70.81% of Realty Income's stock is held by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Latest Stock Performance

As of Friday, shares of Realty Income (NYSE:O) opened at $56.59. The stock has had a low of $50.65 and a high of $64.88 over the past year. The 50-day simple moving average stands at $54.16, while the 200-day average is $57.97. With a market capitalization of $49.52 billion, Realty Income's price-to-earnings (PE) ratio is 53.89, and its price-to-earnings-growth (PEG) ratio is 2.10. The company's beta is 1.00, indicating that it moves in line with the market. The debt-to-equity ratio is 0.68, with both the current ratio and the quick ratio at 1.40.

Dividend Announcement

Recently, Realty Income declared a dividend payment scheduled for March 14th, which amounts to $0.268 per share. Shareholders recorded on March 3rd will receive this dividend, reflecting a yield of 5.7%. This is an increase from their previous dividend of $0.26. Currently, the company's dividend payout ratio is at a high 327.55%.

Analyst Ratings Update

Several analysts have revised their ratings and target prices for Realty Income. Royal Bank of Canada decreased its price target from $62 to $60 while maintaining an "outperform" rating. Stifel Nicolaus lowered its target from $70 to $66.50 and still rates the company as a "buy." Scotiabank also adjusted its target price from $61 to $59, giving a "sector perform" rating. Furthermore, Deutsche Bank initiated coverage with a "hold" rating and a target price of $62. UBS Group has also updated its price target from $72 to $71 with a "buy" rating. There are 11 analysts who have assigned a hold rating and three who have given it a buy rating. According to MarketBeat data, Realty Income carries a consensus rating of "Hold" with an average price target of $61.96.

Company Overview

Realty Income, known as The Monthly Dividend Company, is part of the S&P 500 Index and is recognized as a member of the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats. The company focuses on generating reliable monthly dividends that increase over time. As a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), Realty Income supports its monthly dividends through the cash flow from over 15,450 properties primarily leased under long-term net lease agreements with commercial clients.

investment, dividend, stocks