Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT) Hits New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:FBRT - Get Free Report)'s stock price hit a new 52-week low on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $10.55 and last traded at $11.58, with a volume of 1067813 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $11.11.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. B. Riley upgraded shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. Citigroup reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, March 12th. Finally, Jones Trading restated a "buy" rating and issued a $15.00 price target on shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and two have given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $15.50.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Trading Up 1.5 %

The stock has a market cap of $933.39 million, a PE ratio of 13.42 and a beta of 1.14. The business has a 50-day moving average of $12.77 and a 200 day moving average of $12.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.42, a quick ratio of 90.45 and a current ratio of 84.89.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 13th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $55.95 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $49.28 million. Franklin BSP Realty Trust had a net margin of 45.56% and a return on equity of 8.17%. Equities research analysts predict that Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.41 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a $0.355 dividend. This represents a $1.42 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.72%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. Franklin BSP Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is presently 171.08%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Franklin BSP Realty Trust

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in FBRT. Quarry LP purchased a new position in Franklin BSP Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at about $32,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division acquired a new position in Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Franklin BSP Realty Trust by 42.9% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,623 shares of the company's stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 787 shares during the last quarter. Costello Asset Management INC bought a new position in Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $58,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC grew its position in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust by 1,683.5% in the 1st quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 4,637 shares of the company's stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 4,377 shares in the last quarter. 59.87% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Company Profile

Benefit Street Partners operates as a self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). BSP earns income from investing in a leveraged portfolio of residential mortgage pass-through securities consisting almost exclusively of adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) securities issued and guaranteed by government-sponsored enterprises, either Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) or Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (together, the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)), or by an agency of the federal government, Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae).