MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Shares of MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the five research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $12.13.

A number of analysts have issued reports on the company. Wedbush initiated coverage on MFA Financial in a research report on Tuesday, September 5th. They issued an “outperform” rating on the stock. Raymond James decreased their target price on MFA Financial from $13.00 to $12.50 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday. Royal Bank of Canada restated a “sector perform” rating and set a $11.00 target price on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Monday, August 28th. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, October 5th. They set a “hold” rating on the stock. Finally, JMP Securities dropped their price objective on shares of MFA Financial from $14.00 to $12.50 and set a “market outperform” rating for the company in a report on Thursday, October 19th.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

MFA Financial stock opened at $10.55 on Tuesday. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $9.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.47. MFA Financial has a 1 year low of $8.41 and a 1 year high of $12.38. The company has a market capitalization of $1.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -27.76 and a beta of 1.99.

MFA Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, October 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, October 2nd were issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 29th. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.27%. MFA Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -368.42%.

Institutional Trading of MFA Financial

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp purchased a new position in MFA Financial in the first quarter valued at $26,000. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Federated Hermes Inc. increased its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 240.7% in the 3rd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 4,027 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 2,845 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in shares of MFA Financial by 520.2% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,064 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 2,570 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Private Trust Co. NA lifted its stake in MFA Financial by 165.0% during the second quarter. Private Trust Co. NA now owns 3,713 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 2,312 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.82% of the company’s stock.

About MFA Financial

MFA Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. The company invests in residential mortgage assets, including non-agency mortgage-backed securities, agency MBS, and credit risk transfer securities; residential whole loans, including purchased performing loans, purchased credit deteriorated, and non-performing loans; and mortgage servicing rights related assets.