MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Sets New 52-Week High Following Analyst Upgrade

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday after Raymond James raised their price target on the stock from $13.00 to $14.50. Raymond James currently has an outperform rating on the stock. MFA Financial traded as high as $13.45 and last traded at $13.22, with a volume of 123240 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.15.

A number of other research firms have also commented on MFA. JMP Securities increased their price objective on MFA Financial from $12.50 to $13.50 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, September 6th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on MFA Financial from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Wedbush raised their price target on MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Finally, StockNews.com raised MFA Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $13.40.

Institutional Trading of MFA Financial

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MFA. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 3.0% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,729,687 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $19,494,000 after purchasing an additional 51,010 shares during the period. Jump Financial LLC raised its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 45.1% in the 4th quarter. Jump Financial LLC now owns 36,802 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $415,000 after purchasing an additional 11,431 shares during the period. Norges Bank purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $7,910,000. Clayton Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $1,071,000. Finally, Creekmur Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth about $25,000. 65.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

The business has a fifty day moving average price of $11.88 and a 200 day moving average price of $11.22. The company has a market capitalization of $1.33 billion, a PE ratio of -162.67 and a beta of 2.16.

MFA Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 31st. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 27th will be issued a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 27th. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.76%. MFA Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -1,749.78%.

About MFA Financial

MFA Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It invests in residential mortgage securities, 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.