Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW) Downgraded to “Sell” Rating by Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPW) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on MPW. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target 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. Weiss Ratings reissued a “sell (d-)” rating on shares of Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Wednesday, October 8th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have given a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Reduce” and a consensus target price of $6.17.

Medical Properties Trust Trading Down 1.2%

Shares of NYSE MPW opened at $5.36 on Monday. Medical Properties Trust has a 1 year low of $3.51 and a 1 year high of $6.34. The stock has a market cap of $3.22 billion, a P/E ratio of -4.54 and a beta of 1.43. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $5.22 and a 200 day moving average of $4.83. 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 announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 30th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.13 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.16 by ($0.03). Medical Properties Trust had a negative return on equity of 14.82% and a negative net margin of 75.76%.The business had revenue of $237.52 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $244.89 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.16 EPS. Medical Properties Trust’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Medical Properties Trust will post 0.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Medical Properties Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, December 11th were paid a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, December 11th. This represents a $0.36 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.7%. This is a positive change from Medical Properties Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.08. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -30.51%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Pensionfund Sabic purchased a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the fourth quarter valued at $218,000. Pensionfund PDN bought a new position in Medical Properties Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $435,000. Diversified Trust Co. purchased a new stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the 4th quarter valued at about $50,000. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC grew its stake in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 15.8% in the fourth quarter. NorthCrest Asset Manangement LLC now owns 36,382 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $185,000 after acquiring an additional 4,970 shares during the period. Finally, Wedmont Private Capital raised its holdings in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 83.7% during the fourth quarter. Wedmont Private Capital now owns 18,783 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $101,000 after purchasing an additional 8,559 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 71.79% of the company’s stock.

Medical Properties Trust Company Profile

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.