Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) Reaches New 52-Week Low – What’s Next?

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPT)’s stock price reached a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as low as $3.86 and last traded at $3.87, with a volume of 5179016 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.99.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have weighed in on MPT shares. Royal Bank Of Canada dropped their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $5.00 to $4.50 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Weiss Ratings lowered shares of Medical Properties Trust from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 18th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $5.00 to $3.80 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Sell” and a consensus target price of $4.15.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Performance

The firm has a market cap of $2.34 billion, a P/E ratio of -65.33 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 3.12, a current ratio of 3.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16. The firm’s 50 day moving average is $4.41.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.15 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.15. The company had revenue of $259.28 million for the quarter. Medical Properties Trust had a negative return on equity of 0.66% and a negative net margin of 2.96%.The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. will post 0.6 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Medical Properties Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 8th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, September 10th will be issued a $0.09 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, September 10th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.2%. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently -600.00%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Medical Properties Trust

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of MPT. Asset Management One Co. Ltd. bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust in the second quarter valued at $3,233,000. Kestra Private Wealth Services LLC purchased a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $92,000. Kovack Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $131,000. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund bought a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $511,000. Finally, Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,004,000. 71.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Medical Properties Trust

Medical Properties Trust, Inc (NYSE: MPT) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires, owns and finances hospitals and other healthcare facilities. Founded in 2003 by Edward K. Aldag Jr., the company’s business model centers on providing real estate capital to healthcare operators through long-term leases, sale-leaseback transactions, build-to-suit developments and mortgage financing. By specializing in healthcare real estate, MPT aims to deliver steady rental income and asset-based returns while enabling operators to access capital for clinical operations and growth.

The company’s portfolio primarily comprises acute care hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, behavioral health centers and other specialty hospitals.