Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. $BXMT Shares Purchased by SG Americas Securities LLC

Key Points

• SG Americas Securities LLC boosted its stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 2,836.1% in Q4, buying 207,316 shares to hold 214,626 shares (about 0.13% of the company) worth roughly $4.11 million at quarter-end.
• Blackstone declared a quarterly dividend of $0.47 (annualized $1.88), implying a 10.1% yield with an ex-dividend date of March 31 and a payout ratio of 289.23%, a level that raises sustainability concerns.
• Analysts have a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" with an average price target of $21.13; the stock has traded in the past 12 months between $16.51 and $20.67 and carries a market cap of about $3.15 billion.

SG Americas Securities LLC grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT - Free Report) by 2,836.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 214,626 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after purchasing an additional 207,316 shares during the quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC owned 0.13% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust worth $4,106,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 45.5% during the first quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,715 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 536 shares during the period. North Capital Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust during the third quarter worth $46,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 36.0% during the third quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,926 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $54,000 after purchasing an additional 775 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 64.15% of the company's stock.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Price Performance

BXMT opened at $18.67 on Friday. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $16.51 and a 12-month high of $20.67. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.15 billion, a PE ratio of 28.73 and a beta of 1.00. The firm's fifty day moving average price is $19.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $19.12.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be paid a $0.47 dividend. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 31st. Blackstone Mortgage Trust's dividend payout ratio is 289.23%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BXMT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c-)" rating on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust in a report on Monday, December 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $19.00 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, December 4th. Zacks Research upgraded Blackstone Mortgage Trust from a "hold" rating to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 24th. BTIG Research reaffirmed a "buy" rating and set a $23.00 target price on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust in a research report on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price target on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $21.00 to $21.50 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 12th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, two have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Blackstone Mortgage Trust currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $21.13.

Insider Activity at Blackstone Mortgage Trust

In other news, President Fernando Austin Pena sold 1,666 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.88, for a total transaction of $31,454.08. Following the transaction, the president owned 76,967 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,453,136.96. This trade represents a 2.12% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 1.02% of the company's stock.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Company Profile

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc NYSE: BXMT is a publicly traded real estate finance company that originates, acquires and manages commercial mortgage loans and other CRE debt investments. As an externally managed real estate investment trust (REIT), it seeks to generate attractive risk-adjusted returns through the deployment of senior floating-rate and fixed-rate loans backed by income-producing properties.

The firm's core business activities span the origination of senior mortgage loans, the acquisition of loan portfolios and other real estate debt instruments, and the active management of those investments.

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