Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC Invests $345,000 in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $ARI

Key Points

• Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC invested approximately $345,000 in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE: ARI) by acquiring 36,068 shares in the first quarter.
• Multiple hedge funds have increased their stakes in ARI, with Millennium Management LLC notably raising its position by 265.3% in the fourth quarter.
• Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance declared a quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, with an annualized yield of 9.1% set to be paid on October 15th.

Cubist Systematic Strategies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI - Free Report) during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 36,068 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $345,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 57.9% during the 1st quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 3,425 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,256 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its position in shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 39.2% during the 1st quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,858 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,087 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its position in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 94.1% in the first quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 5,909 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $57,000 after buying an additional 2,864 shares during the period. Accuvest Global Advisors acquired a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in the first quarter worth $107,000. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC acquired a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in the first quarter worth $111,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 54.43% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on ARI shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $10.50 to $10.75 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $10.00 to $10.50 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 15th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $10.31.

Insider Activity at Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

In related news, CEO Stuart Rothstein sold 52,073 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.78, for a total transaction of $561,346.94. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 281,781 shares in the company, valued at $3,037,599.18. This trade represents a 15.60% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.68% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Performance

Shares of ARI traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Wednesday, reaching $10.52. 969,590 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 720,450. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.46 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -75.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.30 and a beta of 1.57. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66, a current ratio of 98.25 and a quick ratio of 98.25. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a twelve month low of $7.70 and a twelve month high of $11.11. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $10.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.76.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, October 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 30th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.5%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -714.29%.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Profile

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.