Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Increases Stock Holdings in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT)

Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. (NYSE:BXMT) by 11.6% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 32,769 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after acquiring an additional 3,410 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.’s holdings in Blackstone Mortgage Trust were worth $697,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 54,350 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,504,000 after purchasing an additional 389 shares during the last quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 4.7% in the 4th quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 10,753 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $228,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares during the last quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 5.2% in the 3rd quarter. MBM Wealth Consultants LLC now owns 12,490 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $264,000 after purchasing an additional 615 shares during the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 46,602 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,014,000 after purchasing an additional 630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Blackstone Mortgage Trust by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 13,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $283,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. 64.15% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,274 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.42, for a total value of $46,435.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 194,298 shares in the company, valued at $3,967,565.16. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,275 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.25, for a total transaction of $46,068.75. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 192,023 shares in the company, valued at $3,888,465.75. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Katharine A. Keenan sold 2,274 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.42, for a total value of $46,435.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 194,298 shares in the company, valued at $3,967,565.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 5,540 shares of company stock worth $112,642 over the last three months. 1.02% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts recently weighed in on BXMT shares. UBS Group decreased their price target on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $21.50 to $21.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, March 20th. Bank of America downgraded Blackstone Mortgage Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and decreased their price target for the company from $22.00 to $21.00 in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $21.00 to $20.50 and set a “market perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. BTIG Research decreased their price target on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $24.00 to $22.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Blackstone Mortgage Trust from $19.00 to $18.50 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Blackstone Mortgage Trust presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $20.83.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE:BXMT opened at $18.23 on Thursday. Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $16.83 and a 52-week high of $23.82. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $19.58 and its 200-day simple moving average is $20.70. The company has a market capitalization of $3.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.93 and a beta of 1.42.

Blackstone Mortgage Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 28th were given a $0.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $2.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 13.60%. Blackstone Mortgage Trust’s dividend payout ratio is currently 175.89%.

About Blackstone Mortgage Trust

Blackstone Mortgage Trust, Inc, a real estate finance company, originates senior loans collateralized by commercial properties in North America, Europe, and Australia. The company originates and acquires senior floating rate mortgage loans that are secured by a first-priority mortgage on commercial real estate assets.