AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC) Short Interest Up 25.0% in February

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC) was the target of a large increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 86,305,973 shares, an increase of 25.0% from the February 12th total of 69,067,581 shares. Approximately 7.8% of the company’s shares are short sold. Based on an average trading volume of 22,036,048 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days. Based on an average trading volume of 22,036,048 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.9 days. Approximately 7.8% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on AGNC. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reiterated a “market perform” rating and issued a $12.00 price objective (up from $11.00) on shares of AGNC Investment in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of AGNC Investment in a report on Monday, December 29th. Piper Sandler raised their price target on AGNC Investment from $11.00 to $11.50 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 15th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of AGNC Investment from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Saturday, December 27th. Finally, Royal Bank Of Canada boosted their price objective on shares of AGNC Investment from $11.00 to $13.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 29th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and seven have given a Hold rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $11.03.

Insider Buying and Selling at AGNC Investment

In related news, Director Gary D. Kain sold 700,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $11.91, for a total value of $8,337,000.00. Following the sale, the director directly owned 2,189,091 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $26,072,073.81. This trade represents a 24.23% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, EVP Bernice Bell sold 25,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.14, for a total value of $303,500.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president owned 491,728 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,969,577.92. This represents a 4.84% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 775,000 shares of company stock worth $9,246,000. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of AGNC Investment

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AGNC. GoalVest Advisory LLC purchased a new position in AGNC Investment during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp bought a new stake in AGNC Investment during the third quarter worth about $29,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC grew its holdings in AGNC Investment by 61.1% in the fourth quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 2,762 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 1,048 shares during the period. Flagship Harbor Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of AGNC Investment during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI increased its stake in shares of AGNC Investment by 100.9% during the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 3,365 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 1,690 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 38.28% of the company’s stock.

AGNC Investment Stock Up 1.0%

AGNC stock opened at $10.33 on Tuesday. AGNC Investment has a fifty-two week low of $7.85 and a fifty-two week high of $12.19. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $11.31 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $10.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01, a quick ratio of 0.21 and a current ratio of 0.21. The company has a market capitalization of $11.60 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.38 and a beta of 1.37.

AGNC Investment (NASDAQ:AGNC) last announced its earnings results on Monday, January 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.02). AGNC Investment had a return on equity of 18.32% and a net margin of 47.40%.The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $354.75 million. As a group, analysts forecast that AGNC Investment will post 1.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AGNC Investment Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 13.9%. AGNC Investment’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 102.86%.

AGNC Investment Company Profile

AGNC Investment Corp. is a self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) that primarily acquires and manages a portfolio of residential mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by U.S. government-sponsored enterprises such as Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The company employs a leveraged total return strategy, borrowing against its securities to enhance income potential while using interest rate hedges to manage risk. AGNC’s investment objective is to generate attractive monthly dividends and long-term capital appreciation for its shareholders.

Founded in 2008 and headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, AGNC focuses exclusively on U.S.