MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Reaches New 1-Year High After Analyst Upgrade

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high 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 trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $13.15.

A number of other brokerages have also commented on MFA. StockNews.com upgraded shares of MFA Financial from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on shares of MFA Financial from $12.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. JMP Securities boosted their price target on shares of MFA Financial from $12.50 to $13.50 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, September 6th. Finally, Wedbush boosted their price target on shares of MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Friday, August 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $13.40.

Institutional Trading of MFA Financial

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Creekmur Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp grew its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 82.7% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 2,658 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,203 shares in the last quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Quent Capital LLC grew its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 17.7% in the 1st quarter. Quent Capital LLC now owns 10,030 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $114,000 after acquiring an additional 1,508 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Counterpoint Mutual Funds LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 1st quarter worth $128,000. Institutional investors own 65.28% of the company’s stock.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.33 billion, a P/E ratio of -162.67 and a beta of 2.16. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $11.88 and its 200-day moving average price is $11.22.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

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

MFA Financial Company Profile

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.