MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) Given Average Rating of “Buy” by Analysts

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) has received an average rating of “Buy” from the five analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $13.80.

A number of equities research analysts have commented on MFA shares. JMP Securities reduced their price target on MFA Financial from $13.50 to $12.50 and set a “market outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday. Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and set a $15.00 price target on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of MFA Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 7th.

MFA Financial Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of MFA Financial stock opened at $10.19 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $1.04 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.41 and a beta of 2.11. MFA Financial has a twelve month low of $9.36 and a twelve month high of $13.45. The company’s fifty day moving average is $10.53 and its 200 day moving average is $11.48.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.35 per share. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 13.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. MFA Financial’s payout ratio is 88.05%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

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