Starwood Property Trust (NYSE:STWD) Sees Unusually-High Trading Volume

Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:STWD - Get Free Report) shares saw unusually-strong trading volume on Friday . Approximately 1,117,510 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 49% from the previous session's volume of 2,170,208 shares.The stock last traded at $19.12 and had previously closed at $19.22.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on STWD shares. Bank of America reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $21.50 price target (down from $22.50) on shares of Starwood Property Trust in a report on Monday, March 4th. BTIG Research decreased their price target on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 17th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $21.00 to $20.50 and set a "market perform" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Raymond James reduced their target price on shares of Starwood Property Trust from $23.50 to $23.00 and set a "strong-buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 16th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $21.88.

Starwood Property Trust Stock Down 1.5 %

The firm's fifty day moving average price is $19.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $20.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.80, a current ratio of 2.49 and a quick ratio of 2.49. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.62 and a beta of 1.65.

Starwood Property Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th were issued a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 10.14%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 27th. Starwood Property Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 138.13%.

Insider Activity

In related news, President Jeffrey F. Dimodica sold 100,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 sale, the president now directly owns 1,226,673 shares in the company, valued at $24,876,928.44. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Insiders own 5.40% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Starwood Property Trust

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in Starwood Property Trust by 9.3% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 6,436 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $135,000 after buying an additional 547 shares in the last quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Highland Capital Management LLC now owns 43,200 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $908,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Retirement Group LLC increased its stake in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 33.5% during the 1st quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 2,516 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 631 shares during the last quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC increased its stake in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 7.3% during the 4th quarter. Advisory Services Network LLC now owns 9,455 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $199,000 after purchasing an additional 644 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina increased its stake in shares of Starwood Property Trust by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 129,403 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $2,504,000 after purchasing an additional 650 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 49.82% of the company's stock.

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.