MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Sets New 52-Week Low - Should You Sell?

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report)'s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Friday . The company traded as low as $10.09 and last traded at $10.39, with a volume of 203493 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.23.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

MFA has been the subject of several research reports. JMP Securities increased their price objective on MFA Financial from $12.50 to $13.50 and gave the company a "market outperform" rating in a report on Friday, September 6th. StockNews.com cut shares of MFA Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $15.00 price target on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Raymond James lifted their price target on MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $14.00.

MFA Financial Price Performance

The firm's 50 day moving average is $11.47 and its 200 day moving average is $11.57. The company has a market cap of $1.06 billion, a PE ratio of 6.53 and a beta of 2.11.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.35 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 13.47%. MFA Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 88.05%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Waterfall Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in MFA Financial during the second quarter valued at about $1,150,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in MFA Financial by 74.9% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 157,481 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $2,003,000 after buying an additional 67,449 shares during the last quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. boosted its stake in MFA Financial by 35.4% in the third quarter. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. now owns 4,583,087 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $58,297,000 after buying an additional 1,197,220 shares in the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial during the third quarter worth approximately $2,509,000. Finally, Deerfield Management Company L.P. Series C bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $561,000. 65.28% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About MFA Financial

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.