KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Invests $2.81 Million in Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY) during the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor purchased 149,084 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $2,811,000.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 78.5% during the 4th quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,630 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 717 shares in the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. purchased a new position in Annaly Capital Management during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 34.4% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,143 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 549 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Annaly Capital Management by 29.3% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,425 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 549 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 65.7% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,598 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 1,030 shares during the period. 51.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Annaly Capital Management Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of Annaly Capital Management stock opened at $21.16 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.93 and a 200-day simple moving average of $20.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.31, a PEG ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 1.53. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. has a 1-year low of $17.67 and a 1-year high of $22.11.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.05. Annaly Capital Management had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 14.95%. As a group, research analysts predict that Annaly Capital Management, Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Annaly Capital Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This is an increase from Annaly Capital Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.23%. Annaly Capital Management’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 176.10%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $22.00 price objective on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a report on Monday, February 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, January 31st. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays initiated coverage on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research note on Monday, January 6th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $19.00 target price for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Annaly Capital Management currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.44.

Annaly Capital Management Company Profile

Annaly Capital Management, Inc, a diversified capital manager, engages in mortgage finance. The company invests in agency mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages; non-agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets; mortgage servicing rights; agency commercial mortgage-backed securities; to-be-announced forward contracts; residential mortgage loans; and agency or private label credit risk transfer securities.