Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) Reaches New 52-Week Low – Here’s Why

Medical Properties Trust, Inc. (NYSE:MPT) shares reached a new 52-week low during mid-day trading on Monday. The stock traded as low as $2.97 and last traded at $2.98, with a volume of 558,486 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $3.01.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have issued reports on MPT. Weiss Ratings cut shares of Medical Properties Trust from a “sell (d+)” rating to a “sell (d)” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 18th. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on shares of Medical Properties Trust from $5.00 to $3.80 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, September 1st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating and two have issued a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Sell” and a consensus target price of $4.15.

Medical Properties Trust Stock Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $1.63 billion, a PE ratio of 4.75 and a beta of 1.45. The company has a quick ratio of 3.12, a current ratio of 3.12 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $3.65 and a 200-day moving average price of $4.43.

Medical Properties Trust (NYSE:MPT) last issued its earnings results on Monday, August 10th. The company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.15. The firm had revenue of $259.28 million for the quarter. Medical Properties Trust had a negative return on equity of 0.66% and a negative net margin of 2.96%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 7.9% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that Medical Properties Trust, Inc. will post 0.53 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Medical Properties Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, October 8th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, September 10th were given a dividend of $0.09 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 10th. This represents a $0.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 13.2%. Medical Properties Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -600.00%.

Institutional Trading of Medical Properties Trust

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. BlackRock Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Medical Properties Trust during the second quarter worth $347,673,000. Corient Private Wealth LP purchased a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the second quarter valued at $3,670,000. Allianz Asset Management GmbH purchased a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the second quarter valued at $33,903,000. State Street Corp purchased a new stake in Medical Properties Trust in the second quarter valued at $118,522,000. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Medical Properties Trust during the 2nd quarter worth about $1,596,000. 71.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Medical Properties Trust

Medical Properties Trust, Inc is a healthcare-focused real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and invests in healthcare facilities. Its portfolio has historically included hospitals, inpatient rehabilitation facilities, long-term acute-care hospitals, behavioral health facilities and other properties used by healthcare providers.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama, the company primarily generates income by leasing properties to healthcare operators under long-term agreements.