Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) Sets New 1-Year High - Time to Buy?

Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $21.59 and last traded at $21.55, with a volume of 6745043 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $21.41.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Argus raised shares of Annaly Capital Management from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $21.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. JMP Securities reaffirmed a "market perform" rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Annaly Capital Management from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, January 31st. Barclays assumed coverage on Annaly Capital Management in a report on Monday, January 6th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $19.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $22.00 price target on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a report on Monday, February 10th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Annaly Capital Management presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $21.44.

Annaly Capital Management Trading Down 0.4 %

The firm's 50-day simple moving average is $19.63 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $19.80. The company has a market cap of $12.51 billion, a PE ratio of 13.61, a P/E/G ratio of 4.85 and a beta of 1.52.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. Annaly Capital Management had a return on equity of 14.95% and a net margin of 20.70%. As a group, analysts predict that Annaly Capital Management, Inc. will post 2.81 EPS for the current year.

Annaly Capital Management Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.02%. Annaly Capital Management's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 163.52%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Annaly Capital Management

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Avior Wealth Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 209.9% in the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,255 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 850 shares during the last quarter. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its position in Annaly Capital Management by 78.5% during the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,630 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 717 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. purchased a new stake in Annaly Capital Management in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in Annaly Capital Management by 34.4% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,143 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 549 shares during the period. Finally, Fourth Dimension Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Annaly Capital Management in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $39,000. 51.56% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Annaly Capital Management

Annaly Capital Management, Inc, a diversified capital manager, engages in mortgage finance. The company invests in agency mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages; non-agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets; mortgage servicing rights; agency commercial mortgage-backed securities; to-be-announced forward contracts; residential mortgage loans; and agency or private label credit risk transfer securities.