Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Raises Stake in Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:STWD)

Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Starwood Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:STWD) by 3.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,322,072 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after buying an additional 39,788 shares during the quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. owned approximately 0.42% of Starwood Property Trust worth $27,790,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of STWD. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its position in Starwood Property Trust by 50.0% in the fourth quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 1,500 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its position in Starwood Property Trust by 111.8% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 2,224 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $39,000 after purchasing an additional 1,174 shares during the last quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC lifted its position in Starwood Property Trust by 50.0% in the first quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 3,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $73,000 after purchasing an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Starwood Property Trust by 85.7% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,210 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $78,000 after purchasing an additional 1,481 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. bought a new stake in Starwood Property Trust in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $95,000. Institutional investors own 49.82% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, President Jeffrey F. Dimodica sold 25,000 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $20.33, for a total value of $508,250.00. Following the sale, the president now directly owns 925,984 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $18,825,254.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 5.40% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on STWD. UBS Group began coverage on Starwood Property Trust in a research report on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a “neutral” rating and a $21.00 price objective for the company. Bank of America restated a “neutral” rating and set a $21.50 target price (down previously from $22.50) on shares of Starwood Property Trust in a report on Monday, March 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on Starwood Property Trust from $20.50 to $21.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Starwood Property Trust from $21.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $21.50.

Starwood Property Trust Price Performance

Shares of STWD stock opened at $20.33 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $6.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.00 and a beta of 1.65. The business’s fifty day moving average is $20.11 and its 200 day moving average is $19.99. Starwood Property Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $16.06 and a twelve month high of $22.29. The company has a quick ratio of 1.75, a current ratio of 1.75 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.95.

Starwood Property Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $0.48 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.44%. Starwood Property Trust’s payout ratio is 179.44%.

Starwood Property Trust Profile

Starwood Property Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Commercial and Residential Lending, Infrastructure Lending, Property, and Investing and Servicing segments. The Commercial and Residential Lending segment originates, acquires, finances, and manages commercial first mortgages, non-agency residential mortgages, subordinated mortgages, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS), and residential mortgage-backed securities, as well as other real estate and real estate-related debt investments, include distressed or non-performing loans.