ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. (NYSE:ARR) Short Interest Update

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. (NYSE:ARR) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 6,400,000 shares, an increase of 58.0% from the January 31st total of 4,050,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 2,150,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.0 days.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on ARR. JMP Securities reaffirmed a “market perform” rating on shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. B. Riley raised ARMOUR Residential REIT to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, January 7th. BTIG Research started coverage on ARMOUR Residential REIT in a research report on Monday, February 10th. They issued a “neutral” rating on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com lowered ARMOUR Residential REIT from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Friday, February 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and four have given a hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $20.50.

ARMOUR Residential REIT Price Performance

Shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT stock traded up $0.06 on Friday, hitting $19.04. 3,007,455 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,469,350. ARMOUR Residential REIT has a one year low of $17.35 and a one year high of $21.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.91 billion, a PE ratio of -44.27 and a beta of 1.48. The firm’s 50-day moving average price is $18.78 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $19.34.

ARMOUR Residential REIT Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 27th. Investors of record on Monday, March 17th will be issued a dividend of $0.24 per share. This represents a $2.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 15.13%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 17th. ARMOUR Residential REIT’s dividend payout ratio is currently -669.77%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Stewart J. Paperin sold 24,852 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $18.78, for a total value of $466,720.56. Following the sale, the director now owns 363 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $6,817.14. The trade was a 98.56 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Robert C. Hain sold 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.07, for a total value of $45,175.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 6,793 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $122,749.51. The trade was a 26.90 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.35% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On ARMOUR Residential REIT

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Private Trust Co. NA bought a new stake in shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Sterling Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT by 927.9% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 1,768 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,596 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. raised its position in shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT by 35.2% during the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,695 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 702 shares during the period. McIlrath & Eck LLC bought a new position in shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT during the 3rd quarter valued at about $61,000. Finally, KBC Group NV grew its position in shares of ARMOUR Residential REIT by 117.8% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 3,465 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $65,000 after purchasing an additional 1,874 shares during the period. 54.17% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

ARMOUR Residential REIT Company Profile

ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc invests in residential mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in the United States. Its securities portfolio primarily consists of the United States Government-sponsored entity's (GSE) and the Government National Mortgage Administration's issued or guaranteed securities backed by fixed rate, hybrid adjustable rate, and adjustable-rate home loans; and unsecured notes and bonds issued by the GSE and the United States treasuries, as well as money market instruments.