MFA Financial (NYSE:MFA) Sets New 52-Week Low – Time to Sell?

MFA Financial, Inc. (NYSE:MFA)’s stock 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. The stock had previously closed at $10.05.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MFA has been the subject of several research reports. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of MFA Financial from $13.00 to $14.50 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Janney Montgomery Scott initiated coverage on shares of MFA Financial in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. They set a “buy” rating and a $14.00 price target for the company. 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, StockNews.com downgraded MFA Financial from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. One 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, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $14.00.

MFA Financial Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $1.01 billion, a P/E ratio of 6.25 and a beta of 2.11. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $11.02 and a 200 day simple moving average of $11.55.

MFA Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Shareholders 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 annualized dividend and a yield of 14.10%. MFA Financial’s payout ratio is presently 88.05%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. purchased a new position in MFA Financial in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC purchased a new position in shares of MFA Financial in the third quarter worth about $38,000. Castleview Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of MFA Financial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $79,000. Zacks Investment Management boosted 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 valued at $145,000 after acquiring an additional 1,281 shares during the period. Finally, Quest Partners LLC bought a new position in MFA Financial during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $189,000. 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.