Leslie’s (NASDAQ:LESL) Trading Up 7.3% – Here’s What Happened

Leslie’s, Inc. (NASDAQ:LESL)’s share price traded up 7.3% on Friday . The stock traded as high as $3.09 and last traded at $3.08. 2,209,893 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 48% from the average session volume of 4,237,554 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.87.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LESL has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Telsey Advisory Group reaffirmed a “market perform” rating and set a $4.00 price target on shares of Leslie’s in a research note on Tuesday, August 27th. Mizuho cut their price target on shares of Leslie’s from $6.00 to $4.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, August 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $3.96.

Leslie’s Stock Up 11.1 %

The stock has a market capitalization of $589.86 million, a P/E ratio of 153.50, a PEG ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 1.19. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $2.85 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.54.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Leslie’s

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ariel Investments LLC increased its stake in Leslie’s by 46.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ariel Investments LLC now owns 36,601,368 shares of the company’s stock worth $153,360,000 after acquiring an additional 11,618,490 shares during the last quarter. Private Management Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Leslie’s by 121.3% in the 3rd quarter. Private Management Group Inc. now owns 5,569,278 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,599,000 after buying an additional 3,052,539 shares during the period. Weiss Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in Leslie’s during the third quarter valued at $6,470,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC increased its position in shares of Leslie’s by 1,300.5% in the second quarter. Squarepoint Ops LLC now owns 1,187,916 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,977,000 after buying an additional 1,103,096 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in shares of Leslie’s by 477.4% in the second quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 1,110,404 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,653,000 after acquiring an additional 918,084 shares in the last quarter.

About Leslie’s

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.