Great Ajax (NYSE:AJX) Earns Sell Rating from Analysts at StockNews.com

StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Great Ajax (NYSE:AJX) in a research note released on Friday morning. The firm issued a sell rating on the real estate investment trust’s stock.

A number of other research analysts also recently weighed in on AJX. B. Riley cut their price target on Great Ajax from $12.00 to $10.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 1st. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $9.00 price target on shares of Great Ajax in a research note on Friday, July 21st. Finally, Raymond James cut shares of Great Ajax from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $9.88.

Great Ajax Stock Performance

AJX stock opened at $6.76 on Friday. Great Ajax has a 1-year low of $5.15 and a 1-year high of $9.40. The firm has a market cap of $159.74 million, a P/E ratio of -3.61 and a beta of 1.80. The business’s 50 day moving average is $6.78 and its 200-day moving average is $6.41. The company has a current ratio of 1.91, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.92.

Great Ajax Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 15th were given a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.83%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, August 14th. Great Ajax’s dividend payout ratio is currently -42.78%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Great Ajax

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Wiley BROS. Aintree Capital LLC increased its holdings in Great Ajax by 4.8% during the 1st quarter. Wiley BROS. Aintree Capital LLC now owns 165,452 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,089,000 after purchasing an additional 7,550 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James & Associates increased its holdings in Great Ajax by 18.2% during the 4th quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 93,455 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $678,000 after purchasing an additional 14,386 shares in the last quarter. Bailard Inc. bought a new position in Great Ajax during the 1st quarter worth about $190,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in Great Ajax by 12.4% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 107,052 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $704,000 after purchasing an additional 11,800 shares in the last quarter. Finally, EMG Holdings L.P. increased its holdings in Great Ajax by 29.0% during the 4th quarter. EMG Holdings L.P. now owns 273,983 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,986,000 after purchasing an additional 61,579 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 58.60% of the company’s stock.

Great Ajax Company Profile

Great Ajax Corp. operates as a mortgage real estate investment trust. It acquires re-performing and non-performing loans; acquires or originates small balance commercial mortgage loans that are secured by multi-family residential and commercial mixed use retail/residential properties; and invests in single-family and smaller commercial properties.