The Goldman Sachs Group Cuts Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) Price Target to $3.00

Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) had its target price reduced by The Goldman Sachs Group from $4.00 to $3.00 in a research report released on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating on shares of Leslie’s in a report on Friday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus dropped their target price on Leslie’s from $1.90 to $1.55 and set a “sell” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Mizuho dropped their target price on Leslie’s from $4.00 to $3.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 6th. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their target price on Leslie’s from $3.75 to $3.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Robert W. Baird dropped their target price on Leslie’s from $4.00 to $3.50 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $3.24.

Leslie’s Price Performance

LESL stock opened at $1.59 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $2.17 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $2.62. Leslie’s has a one year low of $1.56 and a one year high of $8.05. The stock has a market cap of $294.48 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -10.60 and a beta of 1.10.

Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported ($0.23) EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.21) by ($0.02). Leslie’s had a negative return on equity of 6.11% and a negative net margin of 2.13%. Research analysts anticipate that Leslie’s will post 0.08 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. State Street Corp raised its stake in Leslie’s by 7.7% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,406,377 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,564,000 after purchasing an additional 601,177 shares in the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. raised its stake in Leslie’s by 121.3% in the third quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 5,569,278 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,599,000 after purchasing an additional 3,052,539 shares in the last quarter. Lind Value II ApS acquired a new position in Leslie’s in the fourth quarter valued at about $10,258,000. Geode Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Leslie’s by 2.2% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,226,600 shares of the company’s stock valued at $9,428,000 after purchasing an additional 91,898 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC raised its stake in Leslie’s by 340.4% in the fourth quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,436,095 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,662,000 after purchasing an additional 2,655,795 shares in the last quarter.

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.