Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPT) Given Average Rating of “Hold” by Brokerages

Shares of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPT) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Hold” by the six brokerages that are covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, two have issued a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $6.75.

Several analysts have commented on MPT shares. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Medical Properties Trust from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Weiss Ratings began coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a report on Tuesday, February 3rd. They set a “sell (d-)” rating on the stock. Maxim Group initiated coverage on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $8.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada upped their target price on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, March 2nd.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:MPT opened at $5.48 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.28 billion, a PE ratio of -11.91 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10, a current ratio of 2.63 and a quick ratio of 2.63. Medical Properties Trust has a twelve month low of $3.95 and a twelve month high of $6.47.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.15 by ($0.12). The firm had revenue of $270.34 million for the quarter. Medical Properties Trust had a negative net margin of 28.50% and a negative return on equity of 5.87%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.18 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts forecast that Medical Properties Trust will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Medical Properties Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.6%. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -78.26%.

Institutional Trading of Medical Properties Trust

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. GAMMA Investing LLC grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 499.0% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 6,236 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 5,195 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 64.2% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,166 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 2,410 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Harbor Capital Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.79% of the company’s stock.

About Medical Properties Trust

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a real estate investment trust (REIT) focused on acquiring, financing, and owning net-leased hospital facilities. Through sale-leaseback transactions, direct acquisitions and recapitalizations, the company provides capital to healthcare operators while maintaining long-term, triple-net lease agreements. Its portfolio encompasses general acute care hospitals, rehabilitation facilities and other healthcare-related real estate assets and is structured to deliver stable, long-duration rental income streams.

Founded in 2003 and based in Birmingham, Alabama, Medical Properties Trust completed its initial public offering in 2004.