Ladder Capital (NYSE:LADR) received an upgrade from Wall Street Zen, changing its rating from sell to hold in a research report issued to investors on Saturday morning. This adjustment comes as part of a broader evaluation of the company by several equities research analysts, highlighting a mixed outlook on the stock.
Recent Analyst Ratings
In addition to Wall Street Zen’s upgrade, other analysts have expressed varying opinions on Ladder Capital’s stock. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on December 1, while Zacks Research downgraded the stock from a “strong-buy” to a “hold” rating on September 30. Currently, one analyst has assigned a Strong Buy rating, one has issued a Buy rating, and two analysts have given the stock a Hold rating. According to MarketBeat.com, Ladder Capital holds a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” with a target price set at $12.00.
On October 23, 2023, Ladder Capital released its quarterly earnings report, revealing earnings of $0.25 per share (EPS), which surpassed the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.02. The real estate investment trust reported revenues of $57.44 million for the quarter, falling short of analysts’ expectations of $62.90 million. The company’s return on equity stood at 6.70%, with a net margin of 19.26%. In comparison, the firm had posted an EPS of $0.30 during the same quarter in the previous year.
Dividend Announcement and Insider Transactions
Ladder Capital also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23, which was paid on October 15, 2023. This dividend represents an annualized payment of $0.92 and yields approximately 8.4%. The ex-dividend date was set for September 30, 2023. The current dividend payout ratio stands at 146.03%.
In a related development, Director Jeffrey B. Steiner sold 19,481 shares of the company’s stock on October 27, 2023, at an average price of $10.89, amounting to a total transaction value of $212,148.09. Following this sale, Steiner’s ownership in the company decreased significantly, leaving him with 27,311 shares valued at approximately $297,416.79. This transaction was disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
Institutional Investor Activity
Recent activity among institutional investors has also influenced Ladder Capital’s stock. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in the company worth approximately $34,000 during the third quarter. Vision Financial Markets LLC made a similar move, purchasing shares valued at $35,000. Additionally, CWM LLC increased its holdings by 192.4%, bringing its total to 3,798 shares worth about $41,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake by an impressive 531.7%, owning 3,822 shares valued at $44,000. Allworth Financial LP also expanded its holdings by 128.6%, now owning 5,179 shares worth approximately $57,000.
Currently, institutional investors hold 62.25% of Ladder Capital’s stock, reflecting significant confidence in the company’s future prospects.
Ladder Capital operates as an internally-managed real estate investment trust in the United States, focusing on three segments: Loans, Securities, and Real Estate. The Loans segment specifically targets first mortgage loans secured by commercial real estate, including properties undergoing transitions such as lease-up, sell-out, or renovation.
