Analysts Set Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL) Target Price at $6.55

Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Reduce” by the eight ratings firms that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation and five have given a hold recommendation to the company. The average 1-year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $6.55.

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group set a $3.75 price objective on shares of Leslie’s and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 3rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Leslie’s from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research report on Monday, February 9th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of Leslie’s from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Sunday, December 28th. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (e+)” rating on shares of Leslie’s in a research report on Friday, December 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $1.00 target price on Leslie’s and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 18th.

Leslie’s Stock Performance

LESL opened at $1.06 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $9.88 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -0.04 and a beta of 1.33. Leslie’s has a one year low of $0.87 and a one year high of $20.50. The business’s fifty day moving average is $1.39 and its two-hundred day moving average is $3.28.

Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 17th. The company reported ($5.24) earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($4.20) by ($1.04). The firm had revenue of $147.13 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $161.19 million.

Institutional Trading of Leslie’s

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in LESL. Quadrature Capital Ltd purchased a new stake in Leslie’s during the 4th quarter worth about $34,000. Barclays PLC purchased a new position in Leslie’s in the 4th quarter valued at about $35,000. Clearfield Capital Management LP boosted its stake in shares of Leslie’s by 520.5% during the 4th quarter. Clearfield Capital Management LP now owns 191,575 shares of the company’s stock worth $316,000 after purchasing an additional 160,703 shares during the last quarter. Arbiter Partners Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Leslie’s during the 4th quarter worth about $392,000. Finally, Performa Ltd US LLC grew its holdings in shares of Leslie’s by 796.5% during the fourth quarter. Performa Ltd US LLC now owns 116,100 shares of the company’s stock worth $192,000 after buying an additional 103,150 shares in the last quarter.

About Leslie’s

Leslie’s, Inc (NASDAQ: LESL) is the largest direct-to-consumer retailer of swimming pool supplies and related equipment in the United States. Through a network of more than 900 company-operated stores and a robust e-commerce platform, the company offers a comprehensive range of pool chemicals, cleaning tools, pumps, filters, heaters and pool accessories. In addition to product retailing, Leslie’s provides in-store and in-home water testing services, equipment installation, repair and ongoing maintenance programs designed to support both residential and commercial pool owners.

Founded in 1963 in North Miami Beach, Florida, Leslie’s has grown from a single neighborhood pool-supply shop into a national specialty retailer.