MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA) Short Interest Down 34.0% in January

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant drop in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,330,000 shares, a drop of 34.0% from the December 31st total of 3,530,000 shares. Currently, 2.3% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,010,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days.

MFA Financial Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MFA traded up $0.17 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $10.56. The stock had a trading volume of 357,590 shares, compared to its average volume of 964,802. MFA Financial has a 52 week low of $9.36 and a 52 week high of $13.45. The business's 50-day moving average price is $10.46 and its 200 day moving average price is $11.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.08 billion, a PE ratio of 6.64 and a beta of 2.11.

MFA Financial Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a $0.35 dividend. This represents a $1.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.26%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. MFA Financial's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 88.05%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Wedbush reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $15.00 price objective on shares of MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, November 7th. StockNews.com downgraded MFA Financial from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Thursday, November 7th. Janney Montgomery Scott assumed coverage on MFA Financial in a report on Thursday, January 2nd. They set a "buy" rating and a $14.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, JMP Securities decreased their price objective on MFA Financial from $13.50 to $12.50 and set a "market outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, MFA Financial presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $13.80.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Zacks Investment Management grew its holdings in MFA Financial by 12.7% during the 3rd quarter. Zacks Investment Management now owns 11,377 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $145,000 after acquiring an additional 1,281 shares during the period. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new stake in MFA Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in MFA Financial by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 166,046 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $1,692,000 after acquiring an additional 2,287 shares during the period. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its holdings in MFA Financial by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 52,660 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $560,000 after acquiring an additional 2,423 shares during the period. Finally, Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC acquired a new stake in MFA Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. 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.