MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Given a $10.00 Price Target by Royal Bank of Canada Analysts

Royal Bank of Canada set a $10.00 price target on MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA - Free Report) in a report released on Wednesday, MarketBeat reports. The brokerage currently has a sector perform rating on the real estate investment trust's stock.

Several other analysts have also recently issued reports on MFA. JMP Securities lowered their target price on shares of MFA Financial from $12.50 to $12.00 and set a "market outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, April 17th. Wall Street Zen downgraded MFA Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, March 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on MFA Financial from $12.50 to $12.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, May 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MFA Financial has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $12.92.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

MFA stock traded down $0.16 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $9.31. 1,071,855 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,042,134. The firm has a market capitalization of $955.70 million, a PE ratio of 11.49 and a beta of 1.69. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $9.48 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $10.20. MFA Financial has a 52 week low of $7.85 and a 52 week high of $13.45.

MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.33 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $57.54 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $48.80 million. MFA Financial had a net margin of 16.47% and a return on equity of 9.61%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $0.35 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that MFA Financial will post 1.5 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MFA Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 15.47%. This is a boost from MFA Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. MFA Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 146.94%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MFA. Golden State Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in MFA Financial during the first quarter worth about $25,000. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its position in MFA Financial by 823.4% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,278 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 2,923 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in MFA Financial in the fourth quarter worth approximately $46,000. 65.28% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

MFA Financial Company Profile

MFA Financial, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a real estate investment trust in the United States. It invests in residential mortgage securities, including non-agency mortgage-backed securities, agency MBS, and credit risk transfer securities; residential whole loans, including purchased performing loans, purchased credit deteriorated, and non-performing loans; and mortgage servicing rights related assets.