Sona Asset Management US LLC Takes $2.75 Million Position in Annaly Capital Management Inc $NLY

Key Points

• Sona Asset Management purchased 130,000 Annaly Capital Management shares worth approximately $2.75 million during the first quarter. Institutional ownership of NLY stands at 51.56%.
• Annaly reported quarterly EPS of $0.79, exceeding the $0.75 consensus estimate, while revenue of $892.86 million also surpassed expectations.
• The company raised its quarterly dividend from $0.70 to $0.75 per share, implying a 13.4% yield and a $3.00 annualized payout. Analysts maintain a “Moderate Buy” consensus with an average price target of $24.33.

Sona Asset Management US LLC purchased a new stake in Annaly Capital Management Inc (NYSE:NLY - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm purchased 130,000 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $2,750,000.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 111.8% during the first quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 56,803 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $1,154,000 after purchasing an additional 29,978 shares during the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC increased its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 39.4% in the first quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 14,874 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $302,000 after buying an additional 4,205 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in Annaly Capital Management by 17.4% during the first quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 541,733 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $11,003,000 after acquiring an additional 80,481 shares during the last quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 20.8% in the first quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 17,845 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $362,000 after acquiring an additional 3,074 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 833.6% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,920,617 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $59,318,000 after purchasing an additional 2,607,784 shares during the last quarter. 51.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Trending Headlines about Annaly Capital Management

Here are the key news stories impacting Annaly Capital Management this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Annaly’s Q2 results and earnings-call commentary pointed to strong momentum, with management highlighting diversified housing finance growth across Agency securities, Residential Credit, and MSR opportunities, along with disciplined capital allocation. The company also reported strong profitability and a 5.5% economic return, which can help reassure investors about earnings durability. Annaly Q2 Earnings Call Highlights Housing Finance Strategy
• Positive Sentiment: Several reports said Annaly’s earnings available for distribution topped its dividend for a ninth straight quarter, and that rising EAD is supporting another dividend increase. For a high-yield mortgage REIT like NLY, this is important because it suggests the payout may remain well covered. Annaly Capital Management's EAD Topped Its Dividend for a 9th Straight Quarter. Here's Why That Matters for Its 12.5%+ Yielding Payout.
• Positive Sentiment: Annaly also raised its quarterly dividend to $0.75 and signaled attractive 14%–16% levered return potential in agency assets, reinforcing the stock’s appeal to income investors. Annaly signals agency 14%-16% levered return opportunity as it raises quarterly dividend to $0.75
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan and Wells Fargo both lowered their price targets to $24 from higher levels, but kept overweight ratings. That suggests analysts still see upside in NLY, but are somewhat more cautious on valuation and near-term expectations. Analyst price target updates from JPMorgan and Wells Fargo
• Neutral Sentiment: Other coverage framed Annaly as a strong-yield, discounted valuation story, which supports the stock’s income-investor case but does not introduce a major new catalyst. Annaly Capital Management's EAD Topped Its Dividend for a 9th Straight Quarter. Here's Why That Matters for Its 12.5%+ Yielding Payout.

Annaly Capital Management Stock Performance

Shares of NLY stock opened at $22.43 on Monday. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $22.16 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $22.45. The stock has a market cap of $16.43 billion, a PE ratio of 5.62, a PEG ratio of 6.73 and a beta of 1.16. Annaly Capital Management Inc has a 52-week low of $20.00 and a 52-week high of $24.52.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The real estate investment trust reported $0.79 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.75 by $0.04. The firm had revenue of $892.86 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $639.80 million. Annaly Capital Management had a net margin of 43.66% and a return on equity of 16.00%. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Annaly Capital Management Inc will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Annaly Capital Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th will be issued a $0.75 dividend. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.4%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, June 30th. This is a positive change from Annaly Capital Management's previous quarterly dividend of $0.70. Annaly Capital Management's dividend payout ratio is 75.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank Of Canada restated an "outperform" rating and set a $25.00 price objective on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a report on Wednesday, June 3rd. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Annaly Capital Management from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, May 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on Annaly Capital Management from $25.00 to $24.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday. UBS Group reissued a "neutral" rating and issued a $23.00 price target (up from $22.50) on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research note on Friday, April 24th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a "hold (c)" rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Friday, July 10th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, seven have issued a Buy rating and four have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $24.33.

About Annaly Capital Management

Annaly Capital Management, Inc is a publicly traded real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in generating income through investment in mortgage-related assets. The company's core business activities include the acquisition, financing, and management of a diversified portfolio of agency and non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS), commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and other real estate debt instruments. Annaly seeks to profit from the spread between the interest earned on its mortgage investments and its cost of funds, as well as from capital gains realized through active portfolio management.

Founded in 1997 and headquartered in New York City, Annaly has grown to become one of the largest mortgage REITs in the United States.

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