Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT) Lowered to "Strong Sell" Rating by Zacks Research

Key Points

• Zacks Research downgraded Franklin BSP Realty Trust (FBRT) from a "hold" to a "strong sell".
• FBRT missed quarterly EPS expectations ($0.09 vs. $0.22 consensus) despite slight revenue outperformance, and shares opened around $9.04—below the consensus price target of $11.50.
• Analyst sentiment is mixed (three Buys, two Sells), leaving a MarketBeat consensus of "Hold" with an average price target of $11.50, while several firms have recently cut targets or adjusted ratings.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT - Get Free Report) was downgraded by equities research analysts at Zacks Research from a "hold" rating to a "strong sell" rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday,Zacks.com reports.

A number of other analysts have also recently weighed in on FBRT. JonesTrading lowered their price target on Franklin BSP Realty Trust from $13.00 to $12.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 17th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust from a "hold (c-)" rating to a "sell (d+)" rating in a research note on Monday. Wall Street Zen raised shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Saturday, March 7th. Citizens Jmp cut their price target on shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust from $12.00 to $11.00 and set a "market outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, April 16th. Finally, Citigroup restated an "outperform" rating on shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, April 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Sell rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $11.50.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Stock Down 1.3%

Shares of FBRT opened at $9.04 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 90.06, a current ratio of 90.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.74. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $8.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $9.73. The stock has a market cap of $695.33 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.72 and a beta of 0.94. Franklin BSP Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $8.24 and a 12 month high of $11.84.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 29th. The company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.13). The company had revenue of $74.38 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $73.09 million. Franklin BSP Realty Trust had a net margin of 24.26% and a return on equity of 6.46%. Equities analysts predict that Franklin BSP Realty Trust will post 0.79 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of FBRT. Eagle Point Credit Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $8,381,000. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in Franklin BSP Realty Trust by 72.2% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 1,829,401 shares of the company's stock worth $18,349,000 after acquiring an additional 766,875 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. acquired a new stake in Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth $4,237,000. UBS Group AG raised its position in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust by 24.0% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 873,047 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,481,000 after acquiring an additional 168,993 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Independent Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the 1st quarter valued at $1,117,000. Institutional investors own 59.87% of the company's stock.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Company Profile

Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc NYSE: FBRT is a publicly traded real estate investment trust sponsored by an affiliate of Franklin Square Capital Partners. The company focuses on acquiring, owning and managing single-tenant net leased commercial properties across the United States. Its portfolio spans retail, office, industrial and other property types, with leases structured to shift most property‐level responsibilities—such as maintenance, property taxes and insurance—to the tenants.

By concentrating on net lease investments, Franklin BSP Realty Trust aims to generate stable and predictable rental income streams.

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