KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Makes New $2.81 Million Investment in Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm purchased 149,084 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock, valued at approximately $2,811,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 78.5% in the fourth quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,630 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 717 shares during the period. Assetmark Inc. bought a new position in Annaly Capital Management during the 4th quarter worth $31,000. Larson Financial Group LLC increased its position in Annaly Capital Management by 34.4% in the fourth quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 2,143 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 549 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 29.3% in the fourth quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,425 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $45,000 after buying an additional 549 shares during the last quarter. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. boosted its holdings in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 65.7% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 2,598 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $48,000 after acquiring an additional 1,030 shares during the period. 51.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on NLY shares. JMP Securities reiterated a “market perform” rating on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $22.00 price objective on shares of Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Barclays initiated coverage on Annaly Capital Management in a research report on Monday, January 6th. They issued an “equal weight” rating and a $19.00 target price on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Annaly Capital Management from $19.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, January 31st. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $21.44.

Annaly Capital Management Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of NLY stock opened at $21.16 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $20.93 and a 200 day simple moving average of $20.05. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.31, a P/E/G ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 1.53. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $17.67 and a fifty-two week high of $22.11.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. Annaly Capital Management had a net margin of 20.70% and a return on equity of 14.95%. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Annaly Capital Management, Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Annaly Capital Management Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.23%. This is a boost from Annaly Capital Management’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. Annaly Capital Management’s dividend payout ratio is currently 176.10%.

Annaly Capital Management Profile

Annaly Capital Management, Inc, a diversified capital manager, engages in mortgage finance. The company invests in agency mortgage-backed securities collateralized by residential mortgages; non-agency residential whole loans and securitized products within the residential and commercial markets; mortgage servicing rights; agency commercial mortgage-backed securities; to-be-announced forward contracts; residential mortgage loans; and agency or private label credit risk transfer securities.