JMP Securities Cuts MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Price Target to $12.50

MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) had its price objective cut by JMP Securities from $13.50 to $12.50 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a market outperform rating on the real estate investment trust’s stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Wedbush reissued an “outperform” rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of MFA Financial in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of MFA Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $13.80.

MFA Financial Stock Up 0.5 %

NYSE:MFA opened at $10.12 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $1.03 billion, a PE ratio of 6.36 and a beta of 2.11. MFA Financial has a 52-week low of $9.36 and a 52-week high of $13.45. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $10.56 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.48.

MFA Financial Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a $0.35 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 13.84%. MFA Financial’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 88.05%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On MFA Financial

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new stake in MFA Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Castleview Partners LLC acquired a new position in MFA Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $79,000. Zacks Investment Management raised its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 11,377 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $145,000 after buying an additional 1,281 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EMC Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 639.9% in the 4th quarter. EMC Capital Management now owns 13,888 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $142,000 after buying an additional 12,011 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.28% of the company’s stock.

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.