Could there be better times ahead for the share holders of Developers Diversified Realty (NYSE: DDR)? I took a look at what the analysts are indicating, and to me the chances for an upswing look pretty good. As the nation's largest holder of "strong in trade" shopping centers, the company is holding up quite well. We might even say exceptionally well, when you consider that it's sitting atop the real estate and retail double danger zone.

AOL Money and Finance indicates analyst consensus is to hold this stock. I see it just a bit differently. Out of 20 reported target prices for this stock, only one target is below current share price. To me that signals a reasonable expectation that the stock will move up. That is, unless you choose to believe that 19 of 20 brokerage targets are wrong.

Right now, it appears that DDR could be at the leading edge of it's next growth cycle. It's five-year return is pegged at just over 75.5% and it has returned over 16% YTD after losing more than 31% over the past year. This might be a good long term play if we are ready to claim that real estate and the general economy have stabilized. I'd be tempted to grab some of this company, if even just as a show of confidence.


Gary Sattler is a freelance blogger with no stock picking credentials. He does not knowingly have interest in the companies mentioned in this blog post.