MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Sets New 1-Year Low - Time to Sell?

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $8.84 and last traded at $9.02, with a volume of 270130 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.58.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MFA has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. JMP Securities decreased their target price on MFA Financial from $13.50 to $12.50 and set a "market outperform" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MFA Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 28th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price objective on shares of MFA Financial from $13.50 to $12.50 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $13.70.

MFA Financial Trading Down 0.3 %

The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $10.87. The firm has a market capitalization of $836.08 million, a P/E ratio of 10.07 and a beta of 1.61.

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MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.38 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.40 by ($0.02). MFA Financial had a net margin of 16.47% and a return on equity of 9.61%. The business had revenue of $50.80 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $58.06 million. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that MFA Financial, Inc. will post 1.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

MFA Financial Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.36 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This is an increase from MFA Financial's previous quarterly dividend of $0.35. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 17.66%. MFA Financial's payout ratio is 177.78%.

Institutional Trading of MFA Financial

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. National Bank of Canada FI purchased a new stake in MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of MFA Financial by 823.4% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 3,278 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 2,923 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $36,000. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the 4th quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in MFA Financial in the 4th quarter worth $104,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 65.28% of the company's stock.

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.