Short Interest in Ladder Capital Corp (NYSE:LADR) Expands By 43.7%

Ladder Capital Corp (NYSE:LADR) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 13th, there was short interest totaling 2,132,427 shares, a growth of 43.7% from the January 29th total of 1,483,928 shares. Currently, 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 981,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Based on an average daily volume of 981,980 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 2.2 days. Currently, 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ladder Capital

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its stake in Ladder Capital by 63.8% in the 4th quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 2,390 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 931 shares during the period. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Ladder Capital by 500.0% in the fourth quarter. Newbridge Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 3,000 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $33,000 after purchasing an additional 2,500 shares in the last quarter. Atlantic Union Bankshares Corp acquired a new position in shares of Ladder Capital during the third quarter worth about $34,000. Vision Financial Markets LLC bought a new position in shares of Ladder Capital during the third quarter worth about $35,000. Finally, CWM LLC raised its position in Ladder Capital by 192.4% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,798 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 2,499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 62.25% of the company’s stock.

Ladder Capital Trading Down 1.5%

LADR traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $10.38. The stock had a trading volume of 865,499 shares, compared to its average volume of 713,433. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.37, a current ratio of 29.65 and a quick ratio of 29.65. Ladder Capital has a 1-year low of $9.68 and a 1-year high of $11.92. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $10.85 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.98. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 1.01.

Ladder Capital Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 31st were given a $0.23 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. This represents a $0.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.9%. Ladder Capital’s payout ratio is currently 180.39%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on LADR shares. Susquehanna set a $13.00 price objective on Ladder Capital in a research note on Wednesday, January 21st. Wall Street Zen downgraded Ladder Capital from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Friday, January 23rd. Zacks Research lowered shares of Ladder Capital from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Monday, February 16th. B. Riley Financial assumed coverage on Ladder Capital in a research report on Monday, January 5th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $13.00 price objective for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Ladder Capital in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, one has given a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $12.92.

Ladder Capital Company Profile

Ladder Capital Corp (NYSE: LADR) is a publicly traded commercial real estate finance company structured as a real estate investment trust. The firm specializes in originating, acquiring and managing a diversified portfolio of commercial mortgage loans, subordinate financings such as mezzanine loans and B-notes, and equity investments. In addition to direct lending activities, Ladder Capital invests in and manages commercial mortgage‐backed securities (CMBS) and commercial real estate collateralized loan obligations (CRE CLOs), providing financing across a range of property types including office, retail, multifamily, industrial and hospitality assets.

Since its inception in 2008, Ladder Capital has developed a platform that supports both balance-sheet lending and structured securitization.