Principal Financial Group Inc. Buys 124,755 Shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY)

Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Annaly Capital Management, Inc. (NYSE:NLY) by 10.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,285,034 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after acquiring an additional 124,755 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. owned about 0.23% of Annaly Capital Management worth $23,516,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Creative Planning grew its holdings in Annaly Capital Management by 8.3% in the third quarter. Creative Planning now owns 56,506 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,134,000 after purchasing an additional 4,335 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC raised its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 13.4% in the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 7,208 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $145,000 after acquiring an additional 849 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 114,159 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,291,000 after purchasing an additional 3,864 shares during the last quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC raised its position in shares of Annaly Capital Management by 2,254.2% during the 3rd quarter. International Assets Investment Management LLC now owns 449,706 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $90,260,000 after purchasing an additional 430,604 shares during the last quarter. Finally, IFM Investors Pty Ltd grew its stake in Annaly Capital Management by 12.8% during the 3rd quarter. IFM Investors Pty Ltd now owns 132,148 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $2,652,000 after acquiring an additional 14,996 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 51.56% of the company’s stock.

Annaly Capital Management Trading Down 0.4 %

Annaly Capital Management stock opened at $21.64 on Monday. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $19.63 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.80. The stock has a market cap of $12.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.61, a PEG ratio of 4.89 and a beta of 1.52. Annaly Capital Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $17.67 and a 52 week high of $21.88.

Annaly Capital Management (NYSE:NLY) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 29th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping 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%. Research analysts expect that Annaly Capital Management, Inc. will post 2.81 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Annaly Capital Management Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a $0.65 dividend. This represents a $2.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.02%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. Annaly Capital Management’s dividend payout ratio is 163.52%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

About Annaly Capital Management

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.