Advisors Asset Management Inc. Sells 9,537 Shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI)

Advisors Asset Management Inc. cut its holdings in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. (NYSE:ARI) by 4.9% in the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 185,620 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after selling 9,537 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.13% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance worth $2,068,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC bought a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in the first quarter worth $56,000. Naples Money Management LLC bought a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the fourth quarter valued at about $64,000. Hollencrest Capital Management boosted its holdings in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance by 100.0% during the first quarter. Hollencrest Capital Management now owns 10,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $111,000 after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the period. HighPoint Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the fourth quarter valued at about $132,000. Finally, Cascade Wealth Advisors Inc bought a new stake in Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance during the first quarter valued at about $134,000. 54.43% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Mark C. Biderman sold 15,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, May 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $10.00, for a total value of $150,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 60,625 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $606,250. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.68% of the company’s stock.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Stock Performance

Shares of ARI opened at $10.72 on Friday. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. has a 52 week low of $9.14 and a 52 week high of $12.74. The company has a quick ratio of 52.35, a current ratio of 52.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $10.19 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.67.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 15th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th were given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.06%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 28th. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -179.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $11.00 to $10.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 1st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance from $9.50 to $10.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. Finally, BTIG Research started coverage on shares of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance in a research report on Friday, July 19th. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $10.25.

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance Company Profile

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe.