Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Makes New Investment in Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation $AGM

Jefferies Financial Group Inc. bought a new position in Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (NYSE:AGM) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 10,262 shares of the credit services provider’s stock, valued at approximately $1,802,000. Jefferies Financial Group Inc. owned approximately 0.09% of Federal Agricultural Mortgage at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lifted its stake in Federal Agricultural Mortgage by 3.8% in the fourth quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 436,786 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $76,686,000 after purchasing an additional 16,107 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its stake in Federal Agricultural Mortgage by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 312,646 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $52,518,000 after purchasing an additional 17,293 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in Federal Agricultural Mortgage by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 288,701 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $48,496,000 after purchasing an additional 25,305 shares during the period. Capital World Investors purchased a new position in Federal Agricultural Mortgage in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $46,324,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. increased its stake in Federal Agricultural Mortgage by 18.3% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. now owns 182,745 shares of the credit services provider’s stock worth $30,697,000 after purchasing an additional 28,228 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.03% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. Wall Street Zen raised Federal Agricultural Mortgage from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, May 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods raised their price target on shares of Federal Agricultural Mortgage from $215.00 to $228.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Tuesday, May 12th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $228.00.

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Stock Down 0.7%

AGM stock opened at $177.73 on Thursday. Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $136.57 and a fifty-two week high of $210.64. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $163.81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $168.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.93, a quick ratio of 0.56 and a current ratio of 0.56. The company has a market capitalization of $1.93 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.82 and a beta of 1.02.

Federal Agricultural Mortgage (NYSE:AGM) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, May 5th. The credit services provider reported $4.74 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $4.44 by $0.30. The firm had revenue of $109.13 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $110.76 million. Federal Agricultural Mortgage had a net margin of 20.78% and a return on equity of 18.20%. As a group, analysts forecast that Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation will post 19.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, June 30th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 15th will be given a $1.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 15th. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.6%. Federal Agricultural Mortgage’s dividend payout ratio is currently 36.82%.

About Federal Agricultural Mortgage

Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (NYSE: AGM), commonly known as Farmer Mac, is a government-sponsored enterprise chartered in 1988 under the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987. Headquartered in Washington, DC, Farmer Mac was established to enhance the availability of mortgage credit for the agricultural and rural utility sectors. The corporation operates as a secondary market for agricultural real estate and rural infrastructure loans, providing lenders with liquidity and risk management solutions.

The company’s principal business activities include purchasing and securitizing long-term fixed-rate agricultural mortgage loans and rural utilities loans originated by approved lenders.