KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) Receives Average Rating of “Reduce” from Brokerages

Shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) have received an average rating of “Reduce” from the eight research firms that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, five have given a hold recommendation and one has issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $8.80.

KREF has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from $9.00 to $7.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, April 28th. Citizens Jmp lowered shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, April 27th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from a “sell” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Sunday, July 12th. Citigroup lowered shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from a “neutral” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, April 27th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust in a report on Friday, July 17th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On KKR Real Estate Finance Trust

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of KREF. Hantz Financial Services Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 210.5% in the fourth quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 3,099 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 2,101 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. boosted its stake in KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 100.0% during the second quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 3,450 shares of the company’s stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 1,725 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its holdings in KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 178.3% during the fourth quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,537 shares of the company’s stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 2,266 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 742.0% during the second quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 4,151 shares of the company’s stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 3,658 shares during the period. Finally, Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its position in KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 64.1% in the second quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,732 shares of the company’s stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 2,238 shares in the last quarter. 70.23% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Stock Down 1.2%

KREF opened at $6.97 on Tuesday. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $7.09 and its 200 day moving average price is $6.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.36, a current ratio of 407.64 and a quick ratio of 407.64. The stock has a market cap of $408.13 million, a P/E ratio of -2.12 and a beta of 0.82. KKR Real Estate Finance Trust has a 12 month low of $5.25 and a 12 month high of $9.98.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, July 21st. The company reported ($0.58) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of ($0.56) by ($0.02). KKR Real Estate Finance Trust had a negative return on equity of 1.53% and a negative net margin of 47.33%.The business had revenue of $29.34 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $24.97 million. As a group, research analysts predict that KKR Real Estate Finance Trust will post 0.28 earnings per share for the current year.

About KKR Real Estate Finance Trust

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc (NYSE: KREF) is a mortgage real estate investment trust sponsored by KKR & Co Inc The company focuses on originating, acquiring, financing and managing a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate debt and real estate-related assets across the United States and select European markets.

The trust’s investment strategy is centered on lending to high-quality office, industrial, retail, multifamily and hotel properties. Its portfolio primarily consists of senior mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, floating-rate debt securities and preferred equity positions.