Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT) Upgraded to Hold at Zacks Research

Franklin BSP Realty Trust (NYSE:FBRT) was upgraded by equities researchers at Zacks Research from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday,Zacks.com reports.

Separately, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Franklin BSP Realty Trust has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $14.00.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust Stock Up 1.7%

FBRT stock opened at $8.86 on Thursday. Franklin BSP Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $8.42 and a fifty-two week high of $13.58. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33, a current ratio of 70.78 and a quick ratio of 67.81. The stock has a market capitalization of $722.66 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.84 and a beta of 0.98. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $10.24 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.59.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of FBRT. CWM LLC grew its holdings in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust by 126.7% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 2,428 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 1,357 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth $40,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC bought a new stake in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth $40,000. Danske Bank A S acquired a new position in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust during the third quarter worth $45,000. Finally, Transce3nd LLC bought a new position in shares of Franklin BSP Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 59.87% of the company’s stock.

Franklin BSP Realty Trust News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Franklin BSP Realty Trust this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Analyst note calls FBRT a dip-buying opportunity after the market selloff, highlighting portfolio growth via new loans and an acquisition, strong profit margins and a lower debt/equity profile versus peers — a view that can attract yield-focused and value buyers. Franklin BSP Realty Trust: A Dip Buying Opportunity As Portfolio Grows
• Positive Sentiment: Board declared a quarterly dividend of $0.20 (annualized yield ~9.2%) with a March 31 record date — the high yield is likely drawing income-seeking investors and supporting the share uptick.
• Neutral Sentiment: Management outlined a $4.8B–$5B “core book” asset target and said it will reset the dividend as part of a shift toward more stable, predictable earnings — a strategic pivot that could reduce volatility but may lower near-term payout expectations. FBRT outlines $4.8B–$5B core book target and dividend reset as company shifts toward stable earnings
• Neutral Sentiment: Leadership changes were announced at the CEO and senior level — increases governance/transition risk in the near term but could be positive if new leadership executes the stated strategy. Franklin BSP Realty Trust Announces CEO and Leadership Changes
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 results missed expectations: EPS came in below consensus, GAAP net income fell year-over-year and the company missed revenue/earnings estimates — these operational misses pressured sentiment. Franklin BSP (FBRT) Misses Q4 Earnings and Revenue Estimates
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction: coverage and commentaries explain a large recent share decline tied to the dividend reset and earnings misses — that volatility makes near-term price moves sensitive to further execution updates and payout guidance. Why Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.’s (FBRT) Stock Is Down 14.83%

About Franklin BSP Realty Trust

Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc (NYSE: FBRT) is a publicly traded real estate investment trust sponsored by an affiliate of Franklin Square Capital Partners. The company focuses on acquiring, owning and managing single-tenant net leased commercial properties across the United States. Its portfolio spans retail, office, industrial and other property types, with leases structured to shift most property‐level responsibilities—such as maintenance, property taxes and insurance—to the tenants.

By concentrating on net lease investments, Franklin BSP Realty Trust aims to generate stable and predictable rental income streams.