Keefe, Bruyette & Woods Cuts Starwood Property Trust (NYSE:STWD) Price Target to $20.50

Starwood Property Trust (NYSE:STWD - Free Report) had its target price lowered by Keefe, Bruyette & Woods from $21.00 to $20.50 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has a market perform rating on the real estate investment trust's stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on STWD. Bank of America reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $21.50 price target (down previously from $22.50) on shares of Starwood Property Trust in a report on Monday, March 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their target price on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $21.00 to $20.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Starwood Property Trust presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $21.43.

Starwood Property Trust Stock Performance

Shares of STWD traded down $0.77 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, hitting $19.12. 2,683,546 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,143,073. Starwood Property Trust has a fifty-two week low of $16.06 and a fifty-two week high of $22.29. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.00 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.87 and a beta of 1.65. The business's 50 day moving average is $19.93 and its two-hundred day moving average is $19.93. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95.

Starwood Property Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.04%. Starwood Property Trust's payout ratio is 179.44%.

Insider Transactions at Starwood Property Trust

In related news, President Jeffrey F. Dimodica sold 25,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.33, for a total value of $508,250.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 925,984 shares in the company, valued at approximately $18,825,254.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, President Jeffrey F. Dimodica sold 100,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $20.28, for a total transaction of $2,028,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the president now directly owns 1,226,673 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $24,876,928.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, President Jeffrey F. Dimodica sold 25,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.33, for a total transaction of $508,250.00. Following the transaction, the president now directly owns 925,984 shares of the company's stock, valued at $18,825,254.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 5.80% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Starwood Property Trust

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky grew its position in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 97.5% during the 3rd quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky now owns 104,320 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $2,018,000 after buying an additional 51,504 shares during the period. Adage Capital Partners GP L.L.C. acquired a new position in shares of Starwood Property Trust in the third quarter valued at $6,772,000. Campbell & CO Investment Adviser LLC acquired a new position in shares of Starwood Property Trust in the third quarter valued at $506,000. Northern Trust Corp grew its stake in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 26.7% in the third quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 3,121,335 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $60,398,000 after acquiring an additional 657,180 shares in the last quarter. Finally, QRG Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Starwood Property Trust in the third quarter valued at about $3,598,000. 49.82% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Starwood Property Trust

Starwood Property Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Commercial and Residential Lending, Infrastructure Lending, Property, and Investing and Servicing segments. The Commercial and Residential Lending segment originates, acquires, finances, and manages commercial first mortgages, non-agency residential mortgages, subordinated mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and residential mortgage-backed securities, as well as other real estate and real estate-related debt investments, include distressed or non-performing loans.