Regency Centers Stock: Is Wall Street Bullish or Bearish?

Core Viewpoint - Regency Centers Corporation (REG) is a prominent real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on shopping centers in suburban areas, with a market cap of $13.8 billion and a diverse portfolio of tenants including grocers and retailers [1]. Performance Summary - REG shares have underperformed the broader market over the past year, gaining only 2.8% compared to the S&P 500 Index's 15.6% increase. However, in 2026, REG stock has risen by 10.2%, outperforming the S&P 500's 1.7% year-to-date growth [2]. - REG's performance is also better than the Real Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE), which has seen a marginal gain over the past year, while REG's year-to-date gains are in the low double digits compared to XLRE's 4.7% [3]. Financial Results - On February 5, REG reported its Q4 results, with a Funds From Operations (FFO) of $1.17 per share, meeting analyst expectations. The company anticipates a full-year FFO between $4.83 and $4.87 per share [6]. - For the current fiscal year ending in December, analysts project REG's FFO per share to grow by 4.3% to $4.84 on a diluted basis. REG has consistently met or exceeded consensus estimates in the last four quarters [6]. Analyst Ratings - Among 20 analysts covering REG, the consensus rating is a "Moderate Buy," consisting of 10 "Strong Buy" ratings, two "Moderate Buys," and eight "Holds" [7]. - The sentiment has slightly decreased from two months ago when 11 analysts recommended a "Strong Buy." The current price target set by Evercore ISI analyst Steve Sakwa is $78, indicating a potential upside of 2.6% from current levels. The mean price target is $79.22, suggesting a 4.2% premium, while the highest target of $85 indicates an upside potential of 11.8% [8].