Maryland State Retirement & Pension System Makes New Investment in Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL)

Maryland State Retirement & Pension System acquired a new stake in Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 62,022 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $138,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of LESL. RBF Capital LLC bought a new stake in Leslie’s in the third quarter valued at $1,587,000. Lind Value II ApS bought a new stake in shares of Leslie’s in the 4th quarter worth about $10,258,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in shares of Leslie’s during the 3rd quarter worth about $1,702,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Leslie’s by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 900,877 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,009,000 after purchasing an additional 27,615 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in Leslie’s by 142.5% in the third quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 586,926 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,855,000 after buying an additional 344,873 shares in the last quarter.

Leslie’s Stock Performance

Shares of LESL stock opened at $0.92 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $171.30 million, a P/E ratio of -6.17 and a beta of 1.20. Leslie’s, Inc. has a 52 week low of $0.75 and a 52 week high of $6.90. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $1.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.24.

Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.21) by ($0.02). Leslie’s had a negative net margin of 2.13% and a negative return on equity of 6.11%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Leslie’s in a report on Friday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on Leslie’s from $1.90 to $1.55 and set a “sell” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 7th. Mizuho cut their price target on Leslie’s from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Bank of America downgraded shares of Leslie’s from a “buy” rating to an “underperform” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $2.65 to $1.40 in a research report on Tuesday, February 18th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group dropped their target price on shares of Leslie’s from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and ten have assigned a hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Leslie’s has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $2.65.

Leslie’s Company Profile

Leslie’s, Inc operates as a direct-to-consumer pool and spa care brand in the United States. The company markets and sells pool and spa supplies and related products and services. It also offers various pool and spa maintenance items, such as chemicals, equipment and parts, cleaning and maintenance equipment, safety, recreational, and fitness related products.