Natixis Advisors LLC Buys Shares of 28,037 Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT)

Key Points

• Natixis Advisors LLC invested approximately $561,000 in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, acquiring 28,037 shares of the company.
• Blackstone Mortgage Trust recently declared a quarterly dividend of $0.47 per share, representing a 10.1% dividend yield.
• Several firms have adjusted their target prices for Blackstone Mortgage Trust, with JPMorgan Chase lowering their target from $20.00 to $18.50, while UBS elevated theirs from $19.50 to $20.00.

Natixis Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT - Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 28,037 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $561,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rossby Financial LCC bought a new stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust during the first quarter worth about $49,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 187.8% during the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,979 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 1,944 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC increased its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 39.8% during the first quarter. Wellington Shields & Co. LLC now owns 4,410 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 1,255 shares in the last quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC increased its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 18,595.8% during the first quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 4,487 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $90,000 after acquiring an additional 4,463 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 814.9% during the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 5,471 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $95,000 after acquiring an additional 4,873 shares in the last quarter. 64.15% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Stock Down 1.1%

Blackstone Mortgage Trust stock traded down $0.21 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $18.84. 1,068,577 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,141,244. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $16.51 and a 52-week high of $21.24. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -269.14 and a beta of 1.12. The business's 50-day moving average price is $19.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $19.33.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, July 15th. Investors of record on Monday, June 30th were issued a dividend of $0.47 per share. 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 payout ratio is -2,685.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their target price on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $20.00 to $19.50 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, July 31st. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $19.50 to $20.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 15th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust in a research report on Thursday, May 1st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Blackstone Mortgage Trust presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $20.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Anthony F. Marone, Jr. sold 1,517 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $19.20, for a total transaction of $29,126.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 64,082 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,230,374.40. The trade was a 2.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 6,931 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $19.13, for a total transaction of $132,590.03. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer owned 236,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 9,248 shares of company stock worth $177,028. 1.02% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

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.