Cetera Investment Advisers Has $2.96 Million Stock Holdings in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT)

Key Points

• Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 19.1%, holding approximately $2.96 million in shares after purchasing an additional 23,716 shares in the first quarter.
• Blackstone Mortgage Trust announced a quarterly dividend of $0.47, with an annualized yield of 10.0%, though the company's dividend payout ratio is currently -2,685.71%.
• Institutional investors collectively own 64.15% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, indicating significant influence and investment in the company by large financial entities.

Cetera Investment Advisers raised its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT - Free Report) by 19.1% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 147,753 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after purchasing an additional 23,716 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers owned 0.09% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust worth $2,955,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of BXMT. Principal Financial Group Inc. lifted its position in Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 1.9% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 854,617 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $17,092,000 after purchasing an additional 15,644 shares during the period. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC increased its position in Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 45.2% in the first quarter. Janney Montgomery Scott LLC now owns 21,109 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $422,000 after purchasing an additional 6,571 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 48.9% during the 4th quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 146,450 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $2,550,000 after buying an additional 48,114 shares during the period. Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 813,466 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $14,162,000 after buying an additional 17,570 shares during the period. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 21.0% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 815,750 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $14,202,000 after purchasing an additional 141,573 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.15% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other news, CFO Anthony F. Marone, Jr. sold 1,517 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.20, for a total value of $29,126.40. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer owned 64,082 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,230,374.40. This represents a 2.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 6,931 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.13, for a total value of $132,590.03. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 236,914 shares of the company's stock, valued at $4,532,164.82. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 9,248 shares of company stock valued at $177,028 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 1.02% of the company's stock.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Trading Down 0.1%

Blackstone Mortgage Trust stock opened at $18.89 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.24 billion, a PE ratio of -269.79 and a beta of 1.12. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $16.51 and a 12 month high of $21.24. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $19.34 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $19.27.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, June 30th were given a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 10.0%. Blackstone Mortgage Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -2,685.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have commented on BXMT shares. JMP Securities restated a "market perform" rating on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust in a research note on Thursday, May 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $20.00 to $19.50 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, July 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $20.00 to $18.50 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $19.50 to $20.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Blackstone Mortgage Trust has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $20.00.

About Blackstone Mortgage Trust

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc, a real estate finance company, originates senior loans collateralized by commercial properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company originates and acquires senior floating rate mortgage loans that are secured by a first-priority mortgage on commercial real estate assets.

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