HCP, Inc. (NYSE:HCP) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report released on Monday, AnalystRatings.NET reports.

According to Zacks, “HCP’s huge dependence on few tenants and operators is a cause of concern as this raises the risk of failure in adverse situations. Further, cut-throat competition and a hike in interest rate continue to challenge the company. Earlier HCP reported third-quarter 2015 adjusted FFO per share of $0.79, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by $0.01 and up $0.04 year over year. In the first nine months of 2015, the company accomplished $1.4 billion of investment transactions. Nevertheless, HCP might benefit from its diversified portfolio, increasing healthcare spending and an aging population in the long run. Strategic investments, tie-ups and opportunistic acquisitions would drive decent cash flows. “

Several hedge funds and institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Crestpoint Capital Management increased its position in shares of HCP by 22.2% in the fourth quarter. Crestpoint Capital Management now owns 7,700 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $294,000 after buying an additional 1,400 shares during the period. Gilman Hill Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of HCP by 0.6% in the fourth quarter. Gilman Hill Asset Management LLC now owns 8,200 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $314,000 after buying an additional 50 shares during the period. Brookstone Capital Management increased its position in shares of HCP by 9.6% in the fourth quarter. Brookstone Capital Management now owns 8,977 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $343,000 after buying an additional 788 shares during the period. Quotient Investors increased its position in shares of HCP by 19.5% in the fourth quarter. Quotient Investors now owns 9,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $344,000 after buying an additional 1,471 shares during the period. Finally, Seaward Management Limited Partnership increased its position in shares of HCP by 6.2% in the fourth quarter. Seaward Management Limited Partnership now owns 9,374 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $358,000 after buying an additional 550 shares during the period.

Shares of HCP (NYSE:HCP) traded down 4.97% during trading on Monday, reaching $35.21. The company had a trading volume of 5,436,118 shares. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.37 billion and a price-to-earnings ratio of 70.56. The company’s 50 day moving average is $36.87 and its 200-day moving average is $37.27. HCP has a 1-year low of $32.71 and a 1-year high of $48.61.

HCP (NYSE:HCP) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, November 3rd. The real estate investment trust reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.77 by $0.02. The business earned $657.95 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $599.42 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.75 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that HCP will post $3.14 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of other equities analysts also recently commented on HCP. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on shares of HCP from $38.50 to $36.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 4th. Barclays reduced their price target on HCP from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 4th. RBC Capital reduced their price target on HCP from $39.00 to $37.00 and set an “underperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 6th. Mizuho downgraded HCP from a “neutral” rating to an “underperform” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $49.00 to $37.00 in a research report on Monday, November 2nd. Finally, Jefferies Group downgraded HCP from a “hold” rating to an “underperform” rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $39.00 to $30.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 12th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. The stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $38.30.

In other HCP news, Director James P. Hoffmann purchased 10,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, November 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $33.00 per share, with a total value of $330,000.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 38,878 shares in the company, valued at $1,282,974. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Director Peter L. Rhein sold 5,600 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $36.43, for a total transaction of $204,008.00. The disclosure for this sale can be found here.

HCP, Inc. (NYSE:HCP) is a real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company invests in real estate serving the healthcare industry in the United States. Its portfolio consists of investments in various healthcare segments: senior housing, post-acute/skilled nursing, life science, medical office and hospital. Its portfolio includes owned portfolio, unconsolidated joint ventures, and developments and redevelopments. Its owned portfolio includes around 1,040 properties under lease and 68 operating properties. It has interests in unconsolidated joint ventures representing around 88 properties in its senior housing, life science and medical office segments. It has assets under development, redevelopment and land held for future development in life science and medical office segments. The properties owned by it in medical office and senior housing segments, which are under development or redevelopment include Pacific Corporate Park, Memorial Hermann, Sky Ridge, Bayfront, Folsom and Deer Park.

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