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

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA)’s stock price hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $9.88 and last traded at $9.93, with a volume of 96390 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $10.05.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently commented on MFA shares. Janney Montgomery Scott began coverage on shares of MFA Financial in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. Raymond James upped their target price on MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Wedbush reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of MFA Financial in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of MFA Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $14.00.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

The company has a market cap of $974.89 million, a PE ratio of 6.01 and a beta of 2.11. The business’s 50-day moving average is $10.87 and its 200 day moving average is $11.52.

MFA Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced 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. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 14.66%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. MFA Financial’s dividend payout ratio is presently 88.05%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On MFA Financial

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. bought a new stake in MFA Financial in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial during the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the third quarter valued at about $79,000. Zacks Investment Management raised its stake in MFA Financial by 12.7% in the third quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 11,377 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $145,000 after buying an additional 1,281 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quest Partners LLC purchased a new stake in MFA Financial in the third quarter worth about $189,000. Hedge funds and other 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.