Cerity Partners LLC Increases Stock Position in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT)

Cerity Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT - Free Report) by 114.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 98,987 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after acquiring an additional 52,771 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC owned about 0.06% of Blackstone Mortgage Trust worth $2,105,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 15.3% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 18,643,329 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $405,492,000 after purchasing an additional 2,470,412 shares during the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 4,968.8% in the third quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 928,149 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $20,187,000 after buying an additional 909,838 shares during the period. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 308.3% during the fourth quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,143,826 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $24,215,000 after acquiring an additional 863,715 shares during the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new position in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust during the fourth quarter worth about $14,268,000. Finally, Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 45.5% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 2,141,173 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $46,578,000 after acquiring an additional 669,172 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.15% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Blackstone Mortgage Trust news, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,275 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.25, for a total transaction of $46,068.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 192,023 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,888,465.75. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,274 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.42, for a total value of $46,435.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 194,298 shares of the company's stock, valued at $3,967,565.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,275 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.25, for a total transaction of $46,068.75. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 192,023 shares in the company, valued at $3,888,465.75. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have sold 5,540 shares of company stock valued at $112,642. 1.02% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Stock Up 1.1 %

NYSE BXMT traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $18.54. 1,517,558 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,749,954. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.22 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.15 and a beta of 1.42. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $16.83 and a 1 year high of $23.82. The business's 50 day simple moving average is $19.57 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.66.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th were paid a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.38%. Blackstone Mortgage Trust's payout ratio is currently 175.89%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Bank of America lowered shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lowered their price target for the stock from $22.00 to $21.00 in a report on Monday, March 4th. BTIG Research dropped their target price on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their price target on shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $21.00 to $20.50 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price objective on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $19.00 to $18.50 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 10th. Finally, UBS Group cut their target price on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $21.50 to $21.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 20th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Blackstone Mortgage Trust presently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $20.83.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Company Profile

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.