Clarity Financial LLC Buys 373,959 Shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY)

Clarity Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY - Free Report) by 112.2% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 707,130 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after purchasing an additional 373,959 shares during the period. Annaly Capital Management makes up 1.5% of Clarity Financial LLC's investment portfolio, making the stock its 24th biggest holding. Clarity Financial LLC owned about 0.13% of Annaly Capital Management worth $12,940,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Mediolanum International Funds Ltd bought a new position in shares of Annaly Capital Management during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $8,170,000. Ibex Wealth Advisors grew its position in Annaly Capital Management by 952.1% during the fourth quarter. Ibex Wealth Advisors now owns 281,154 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $5,145,000 after buying an additional 254,432 shares in the last quarter. Swedbank AB grew its holdings in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 4.8% during the fourth quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 681,411 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $12,470,000 after purchasing an additional 31,352 shares in the last quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 46,421 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $889,000 after buying an additional 3,770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC increased its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 37.5% in the fourth quarter. Lebenthal Global Advisors LLC now owns 61,585 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $1,127,000 after acquiring an additional 16,806 shares during the last quarter. 51.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Annaly Capital Management Stock Performance

Annaly Capital Management stock traded up $0.27 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $20.48. 2,765,295 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,587,584. The business has a 50 day moving average of $19.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $19.69. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.86 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22, a current ratio of 0.12 and a quick ratio of 0.08. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. has a 12 month low of $17.67 and a 12 month high of $21.11.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.67 by $0.05. Annaly Capital Management had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 14.95%. As a group, research analysts predict that Annaly Capital Management, Inc. will post 2.72 earnings per share for the current year.

Annaly Capital Management Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 12.70%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. Annaly Capital Management's dividend payout ratio is 163.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on NLY shares. JMP Securities reissued a "market perform" rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday. Argus raised shares of Annaly Capital Management from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $21.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Thursday, October 31st. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Barclays assumed coverage on shares of 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. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $21.44.

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.