Strategic Financial Concepts LLC Boosts Holdings in Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC)

Strategic Financial Concepts LLC increased its stake in shares of Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) by 1,030.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 219,372 shares of the financial services provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 199,972 shares during the quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC’s holdings in Ellington Financial were worth $2,659,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. McIlrath & Eck LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ellington Financial during the third quarter worth about $62,000. Prospera Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Ellington Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $68,000. Members Trust Co purchased a new position in Ellington Financial during the 3rd quarter worth $129,000. Atom Investors LP purchased a new stake in shares of Ellington Financial during the third quarter worth approximately $130,000. Finally, CenterStar Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Ellington Financial in the 4th quarter worth $136,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 55.62% of the company’s stock.

Ellington Financial Stock Performance

Ellington Financial stock opened at $12.70 on Monday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $12.34 and a 200 day moving average price of $12.58. Ellington Financial Inc. has a 52 week low of $10.88 and a 52 week high of $13.46. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.15 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.70 and a beta of 1.97. The company has a current ratio of 37.04, a quick ratio of 37.04 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 10.87.

Ellington Financial Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.13 per share. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 31st. Ellington Financial’s dividend payout ratio is currently 119.08%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EFC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and issued a $14.00 price target on shares of Ellington Financial in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. B. Riley raised Ellington Financial to a “strong-buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Ellington Financial currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $13.58.

Ellington Financial Company Profile

Ellington Financial Inc, through its subsidiary, Ellington Financial Operating Partnership LLC, acquires and manages mortgage-related, consumer-related, corporate-related, and other financial assets in the United States. The company acquires and manages residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) backed by prime jumbo, Alt-A, manufactured housing, and subprime mortgage; RMBS for which the principal and interest payments are guaranteed by the U.S.