MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Hits New 52-Week Low – Here’s What Happened

Shares of MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $10.09 and last traded at $10.39, with a volume of 203493 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.23.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MFA has been the topic of several research reports. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Wedbush reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com cut MFA Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, JMP Securities raised their price objective on MFA Financial from $12.50 to $13.50 and gave the company a “market outperform” rating in a report on Friday, September 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $14.00.

MFA Financial Trading Up 1.6 %

The firm has a fifty day moving average of $11.47 and a two-hundred day moving average of $11.58. The company has a market capitalization of $1.06 billion, a PE ratio of 6.53 and a beta of 2.11.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 13.47%. MFA Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 88.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MFA Financial

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Waterfall Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of MFA Financial during the second quarter worth about $1,150,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in MFA Financial by 74.9% during the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 157,481 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,003,000 after purchasing an additional 67,449 shares during the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. lifted its holdings in MFA Financial by 35.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 4,583,087 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $58,297,000 after buying an additional 1,197,220 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,509,000. Finally, Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the second quarter valued at approximately $561,000. Institutional investors own 65.28% of the company’s stock.

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.