Medical Properties Trust Target of Unusually High Options Trading (NYSE:MPW)

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPW) was the target of some unusual options trading activity on Wednesday. Traders bought 169,201 call options on the stock. This is an increase of approximately 503% compared to the average daily volume of 28,043 call options.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Up 1.2%

Shares of MPW traded up $0.07 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $5.52. The stock had a trading volume of 9,544,675 shares, compared to its average volume of 9,740,070. The company has a market cap of $3.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -4.67 and a beta of 1.44. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $5.25 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.72. Medical Properties Trust has a 1-year low of $3.51 and a 1-year high of $6.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06, a current ratio of 2.68 and a quick ratio of 2.68.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.16 by ($0.03). Medical Properties Trust had a negative net margin of 75.76% and a negative return on equity of 14.82%. The business had revenue of $237.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $244.89 million. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.16 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Medical Properties Trust will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Medical Properties Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, January 8th. Investors of record on Thursday, December 11th will be paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 11th. This is a positive change from Medical Properties Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.5%. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -27.12%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have issued reports on MPW. Weiss Ratings reiterated a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Zacks Research raised Medical Properties Trust from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 20th. Wall Street Zen lowered Medical Properties Trust from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, November 28th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the stock an “underweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 25th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, three have given a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $5.63.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Medical Properties Trust

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in MPW. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $28,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 346.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. now owns 7,274 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 5,645 shares in the last quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $37,000. Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 3rd quarter worth $39,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. purchased a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the first quarter valued at $41,000. 71.79% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a self-advised real estate investment trust formed in 2003 to acquire and develop net-leased hospital facilities. From its inception in Birmingham, Alabama, the Company has grown to become one of the world's largest owners of hospital real estate with 441 facilities and approximately 44,000 licensed beds as of September 30, 2023.