Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) Sees Large Volume Increase – Here’s Why

Shares of Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPT) saw unusually-strong trading volume on Wednesday . Approximately 5,442,851 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 16% from the previous session’s volume of 6,487,159 shares.The stock last traded at $4.9190 and had previously closed at $5.36.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on MPT. Weiss Ratings assumed coverage on Medical Properties Trust in a research report on Tuesday, February 3rd. They issued a “sell (d-)” rating on the stock. Maxim Group started coverage on Medical Properties Trust in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $8.00 price target for the company. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 25th. Royal Bank Of Canada increased their price objective on Medical Properties Trust from $4.50 to $5.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Wall Street Zen raised Medical Properties Trust from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, February 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, two have assigned a Hold rating and two have assigned a Sell rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Medical Properties Trust has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $6.75.

Medical Properties Trust Trading Down 6.1%

The stock has a market capitalization of $3.01 billion, a PE ratio of -10.95 and a beta of 1.39. The company has a current ratio of 2.63, a quick ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 19th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.03 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.15 by ($0.12). The business had revenue of $270.34 million during the quarter. Medical Properties Trust had a negative net margin of 28.50% and a negative return on equity of 5.87%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.18 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. will post 0.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Medical Properties Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 12th will be given a dividend of $0.09 per share. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.1%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 12th. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently -78.26%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of MPT. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 3.2% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 67,433 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $342,000 after purchasing an additional 2,085 shares in the last quarter. Arizona State Retirement System grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 1.4% during the third quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 151,116 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $766,000 after buying an additional 2,129 shares in the last quarter. Aberdeen Group plc grew its stake in Medical Properties Trust by 0.5% during the fourth quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 464,296 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,321,000 after buying an additional 2,145 shares in the last quarter. waypoint wealth counsel increased its holdings in Medical Properties Trust by 13.3% in the 4th quarter. waypoint wealth counsel now owns 18,808 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $94,000 after buying an additional 2,215 shares during the period. Finally, IFP Advisors Inc raised its position in shares of Medical Properties Trust by 64.2% in the 4th quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 6,166 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 2,410 shares in the last quarter. 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.