MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Hits New 12-Month Low - Here's What Happened

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report)'s share price hit a new 52-week low on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $9.88 and last traded at $9.93, with a volume of 96390 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $10.05.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MFA has been the topic of several research reports. StockNews.com downgraded MFA Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Raymond James upped their price target on MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Wedbush reissued an "outperform" rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott started coverage on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. They issued a "buy" rating and a $14.00 target price on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, MFA Financial has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $14.00.

MFA Financial Price Performance

The stock has a market cap of $1.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.26 and a beta of 2.11. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $10.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.55.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

The company 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 14.07%. MFA Financial's dividend payout ratio is 88.05%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vaughan Nelson Investment Management L.P. increased its holdings in MFA Financial by 35.4% during the 3rd 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 purchasing an additional 1,197,220 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC raised its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 902.9% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 374,481 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $4,764,000 after purchasing an additional 337,142 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of MFA Financial by 38.7% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 898,212 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $11,425,000 after purchasing an additional 250,535 shares during the last quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the third quarter worth $2,509,000. Finally, State Street Corp boosted its holdings in MFA Financial by 6.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,579,818 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,700,000 after purchasing an additional 151,321 shares during the last quarter. 65.28% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.