AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) ("AGNC" or the "Company") announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock for May 2020. The dividend is payable on June 9, 2020 to common stockholders of record a…

The mortgage REIT sold the safest assets

Investors who take an interest in AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC) should definitely note that the Independent...

AGNC Investment Corp. ("AGNC" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: AGNC) today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is a classic defensive stock with a 3.6% dividend yield. If you are looking for dividend-producing stocks that pay better than Coke but are a little less affected by the pandemic, what companies should you consider? AGNC Investment (NASDAQ: AGNC) is a mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that specializes in government-guaranteed mortgages.

AGNC Investment (AGNC) might move higher on growing optimism about its earnings prospects, which is reflected by its upgrade to a Zacks Rank 2 (Buy).

Economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic has hit the mortgage business and created a tale of two businesses.

Price-to-book or price-to-NAV ratios are an important part of analyzing mortgage REITs. We've used these ratios extensively in our work.For this article we're going to include a handful of our ratings using our latest estimates on book value per share.We're b…

Volatility and liquidity crisis in the mortgage market are expected to have impacted MBS prices and AGNC Investment's (AGNC) book value in first-quarter 2020.

Details the CEO buys this past week for the following companies: The GEO Group, AGNC Investment, Illinois Tool Works, Owl Rock Capital and OPKO Health Continue reading...

Has the worst of the coronavirus financial storm passed for this mortgage REIT?

On 4/29/2020, AGNC reported results for the first quarter of 2020. AGNC reported a comprehensive loss of ($1.98) billion and a non-tangible BV as of 3/31/2020 of $14.55 per common.In this article, I will discuss my previous account projections versus actual r…

We're at the halfway point of the most newsworthy and consequential REIT earnings season in a decade. Rent collection and dividend plans have been the primary focus of investors. We've now tracked 33 equity REITs in our universe of 165 names to announ…

AGNC Investment (AGNC) witnesses fall in net book value per common share in Q1 due to the underperformance of mortgage assets and lower valuation premiums for its higher coupon specified pool assets.

The worst is probably over for this mortgage REIT, but credit risk remains as the country struggles with the coronavirus pandemic.

Discounts to book value remain dramatic.Investors who understand mortgage REITs are still in a great position to capture upside in the sector.Investors who don’t understand the sector and regularly lose money are likely to continue complaining about how it is…

AGNC earnings call for the period ending March 31, 2020.

Q1 2020 AGNC Investment Corp Earnings Call

Coke has suffered from restaurant closures. What stocks might be better bets?

Waiting out the storm? These companies have attractive defensive characteristics.

The average annualized NAV return since inception for 15 residential mortgage REITs is 3.5%.The average annualized NAV return since inception for 10 commercial mortgage REITs is 2.7%.Mortgage REITs have complexity, volatility, and high overhead, but many fail…

After the carnage in the mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) space over the past two months, is the worst over? For at least one mortgage REIT, the answer may be yes. AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: AGNC) reported first-quarter earnings on Thursday, April 30, that demonstrated the pain in the mortgage REIT space.

Does history repeat? Many of us, no doubt, remember the crash of the doc.com bubble back in 2000, and at least one analyst sees that pattern repeating before our eyes. Will Meade, who built his reputation in stock analysis with Goldman Sachs, believes that the current rally is only temporary, and that the markets are likely to fall again in 2H20 – by as much as 40%.Meade points that, like in 2000, we have the risk and uncertainty of a Presidential election coming up, and then adds, “The NASDAQ in 2000 did a similar bear market bounce as stocks this year — dropped 40%, then bounced 42% off the bottom retracing 61.8% of its drop. It stalled then fell 43%, making a new low four months later.” If Meade is right, then the true market bottom is due to hit us in late July or early September.The analyst is not all doom and gloom, however. While he is predicting bad news and tough times for the stock markets, he also points out that investors can act now to buffer their personal positions. His advice: move to liquid assets and build a cash savings buffer.Shoring up the savings account is only part of a strong defensive strategy. Investors can also shift their portfolio toward dividend stocks, relying on the steady income from the dividend payments to compensate for lower share price appreciation.We’ve used TipRanks database to find three high-yielding stocks that offer reliable payments – and all three have gotten the thumbs up from Maxim analyst Michael Diana.Ellington Financial, Inc. (EFC)We’ll start in the financial sector, with a small-cap company in the mortgage finance niche. Ellington operates as an investor, putting money into consumer loans, equity investments, mortgage backed securities, and both residential and commercial mortgages. It’s a standard portfolio for a mortgage-focused real estate investment trust.As an REIT, Ellington naturally offers a high dividend. REITs are required to a return a high percentage of profits to investors, and dividends are a sure way to comply with that regulatory provision. In response to the COVID-19 epidemic, and consequent economic damage, Ellington had to reduce its monthly payment starting with the April 29 payout. However, the company is maintaining a 54% payout ratio – returning more than half of earnings to investors. The 8-cent per share payment annualized to 96 cents, and offers investors a yield of 10%.Right now, the Fed’s key interest rate is down to the 0 to 25 basis point range, and Treasury bonds are yielding less than 1%. Even among dividend stocks, the average yield is just 2%. So, EFC’s 10% dividend yield is a fantastic return. Looking ahead, the company is expected to show 40 cents per share in earnings for Q1, more than enough to maintain the new monthly dividend.Maxim’s Michael Diana has tagged EFC as a ‘top pick,’ particularly noting the company’s strong management team: "Managing an mREIT even in 'normal' times is a difficult task, as the manager must balance leverage, prepayment protection, interest income, hedging, and diversity of financing sources to position the investment portfolio to withstand unexpected shocks without giving up too much income. When an unexpected shock does occur, crisis management skills are required to dynamically hedge and reposition the portfolio. We have followed EFC longer than any other analyst and, in our view, EFC management possesses all of these skills."Diana puts an $18 price target on EFC shares, implying a whooping 82% upside potential that fully supports his Buy rating. (To watch Diana’s track record, click here)Wall Street agrees with Diana’s assessment here. The analyst consensus on this stock is a Strong Buy, and it is unanimous, based on 4 Buy reviews set in recent weeks. Shares are selling at a comfortable entry point, just $9.87, and the average price target of $14.38 suggests room for a robust 46% upside growth this year. (See Ellington stock analysis on TipRanks)AGNC Investment (AGNC)Based in the Maryland suburbs of Washington DC, AGNC is another REIT. The company’s portfolio is centered on residential mortgage-backed securities, but with a twist. Most of AGNC’s portfolio investments are guaranteed by the US government. The company’s portfolio includes $70.7 billion in such agency-supported securities, out of a total value of $93 billion.AGNC reported fiscal Q1 earnings at the end of April, and beat the forecast on EPS. Per-share earnings came in at 57 cents, based on $65 million in net interest income. The income interest figure is down significantly from the previous quarter, reflecting the economic troubles caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. On a positive note, AGNC’s cash holdings increased 55% in the first quarter, reaching $1.29 billion by March 31.A solid cash position and safe guarantees on the portfolio make AGNC an attractive investment, and the reliable monthly dividend adds icing to that cake. Like EFC above, AGNC lowered its monthly payment in Q1. The new payment is 12 cents per share per month, which annualized to $1.44 and gives a strong yield of 11.5%. At 63.2%, the payout ratio shows that the dividend is easily sustainable at current income levels – and has room to raised back to previous rates when conditions warrant.Diana is bullish on this stock and upgrades his rating from Hold to Buy. The analyst noted, "While turmoil in the mortgage markets at the end of March resulted in losses and lower book values for all mREITs, AGNC was able to meet all of its margin calls and, importantly, take relatively fewer realized losses, and therefore retain more earnings power post-turmoil. This is why we believe the dividend, currently yielding 11.7% (vs. ~5% for peers) is safe."Along with the Buy rating, Diana gives AGNC a $15 price target, indicating a potential for 20% upside appreciation in the coming 12 months.The analysts are somewhat cautious on AGNC, a sentiment caught by the 8 to 3 split between Buy and Hold reviews. The consensus rating on the stock remains a Moderate Buy, while the $14.53 average price target implies a 14% upside potential. (See AGNC stock analysis on TipRanks)Manhattan Bridge Capital (LOAN)Last on our list is a NYC-based micro-cap lending company, Manhattan Bridge Capital. The company offers short-term financing and collateralized loans. Typical collateral includes real estate and tradeable stock, and the loans are usually used as first mortgages. LOAN originates, services, and manages its loan portfolio, and most of its customers are professional real estate investors and developers.The coronavirus epidemic has hurt real estate development and construction – exactly the type of projects that LOAN finances – in general, but that hit has been especially hard in New York City. At both the State and City levels, lockdown restrictions have been severe, and the mortgage loan environment is described by Diana as ‘challenging.’On a positive note, LOAN has covered its quarterly dividend payment, despite lower Q1 earnings. At 11 cents per share, the quarterly dividend annualized to 44 cents and offers investors a yield of 10.8%. Again, this compares favorably to most investment return yields out there.The high dividend yield alone makes this an attractive investment opportunity, but Diana also points out the stability of Manhattan Bridge’s portfolio, writing, “LOAN has never had to foreclose on a property and has never experienced a loan default.”With the stable portfolio in mind, Diana goes on to say, “We believe LOAN deserves to trade at a P/E premium to [peers] because of its: 1) lower leverage; 2) higher profitability; 3) better credit quality; 4) lower earnings volatility; and 5) dividend growth (which is possible in 2021, in our view, if the environment improves and stabilizes).”Diana’s $6 price target on the stock implies a healthy 46% one-year upside potential, and fully backs his Buy rating on the stock. Diana’s is the only recent Wall Street review of this stock – but should his thesis prove correct, expect LOAN to attract both stock analysts and investors in the near future. It offers a low cost of entry with a high potential return – an unbeatable combination. (See LOAN stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

AGNC Investment (AGNC) doesn't possess the right combination of the two key ingredients for a likely earnings beat in its upcoming report. Get prepared with the key expectations.

Mortgage REITs are delivering another strong day as shares rocket higher.Price to trailing book value ratios remain very low. Throughout the sector more book values will be up than down.We’ve included tables to reflect the discounts to trailing book value.We’…

Investors who take an interest in AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ:AGNC) should definitely note that the Independent...

AGNC Investment Corp. ("AGNC" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: AGNC) today announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2020.

Keeping up the returns would be a neat trick in today’s market, as the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us into prolonged economic shutdowns and social lockdowns, while promoting volatility in both markets and politics. For investors, then, the best strategy may just be to follow a winner.Billionaire investing legend George Soros is most definitely a winner. He’s built a portfolio worth billions, and had possibly the greatest bull run in hedge fund history, averaging 30% annualized returns for 30 years. Starting in 1992, when he shorted the Pound Sterling and made $1 billion in 24 hours, to his most recent 13F filings, Soros has a record of success that few investors can match.Soros built his career and his fortune avoiding controversial stocks, and always keeping high returns in mind. Soros has always like dividend stocks; they offer a steady return, and for Soros, reliable returns have always been the key point.We this in mind, we’ve taken three of Soros’ recent holding additions and looked them up in the TipRanks database. We discovered that all three are Buy-rated and, more importantly, offer robust dividend yields.AGNC Investment (AGNC)First up is a real estate investment trust (REIT), based in Washington DC’s Maryland suburbs. AGNC holds a portfolio of mortgage-backed securities, guaranteed by the US government. Of the company’s total portfolio, 76%, or $70.7 billion worth, is made up of Federally backed securities, giving AGNC’s assets a rock-solid foundation.Soros already had a position in AGNC, of more than 1,388,000 shares, and in the first quarter he added an additional 312,000 shares. It was a 22% boost in the quantity of his AGNC holding, only one year after first buying into the stock. Soros’ holding in AGNC is currently worth over $21 million.It’s clearly a solid investment. AGNC beat the EPS forecast in fiscal Q1, reporting 57 cents per share despite a sequential decline in quarterly income from interest. The company’s $1.29 billion in cash holdings allow it to support a generous dividend payment. More important, management was wise enough to adjust the most recent dividend to keep it aligned with earnings. Even reduced, the 12-cent monthly payment annualizes to $1.44 and gives a yield of 11.5%. That’s a high yield by any standard, but compared to peer stocks (which average 2.2%) or the S&P 500 generally (where dividends average 2.0%), it looks even better.Covering this stock for JPMorgan, 5-star analyst Richard Shane sees Federal backing as the underlying strength. He writes, “We believe AGNC remains a compelling investment given continued Fed support of agency and short-term repo markets, and believe the portfolio can continue to perform as the economic situation normalizes with specified collateral mitigating prepayment concerns.”Shane’s $16.50 price target on AGNC suggests an upside of 32%, fully supporting his Buy rating. (To watch Shane’s track record, click here)All in all, Wall Street is mostly in agreement with Soros and Shane when it comes to buying AGNC. The stock has 11 recent reviews, of which 8 are Buy and 3 are Hold. The stock’s analyst consensus view is a Moderate Buy. Selling for just $12.44, AGNC is affordable, especially given its high dividend yield. At $14.53, the average price target implies room for a 17% upside potential. (See AGNC stock analysis on TipRanks)Cenovus Energy (CVE)Alberta, Canada has, for well over a decade, been at the center of that country’s energy boom. The province’s tar sands have proven to be an incredibly rich source of hydrocarbon energy, and made Canada a world player in the oil markets. Cenovus owns extensive oil and natural gas operations across Alberta and British Columbia, along with refineries in Illinois and Texas. Importantly, Cenovus managed to reduce its long-term debt by 21% in recent months, despite seeing a sharp drop in earnings in Q1.Soros first bought into CVE in Q4 2019, buying 300,000 shares. In this most recent quarter, record show that he added another 1.7 million shares – making his total holding 2 million shares, worth over $7 million.CVE pays out a reliable dividend, and even though earnings turned negative in Q1, the company held firm to the payment. At just 4.5 cents per share quarterly, annualizing to 18 cents, it may not sound like much, but it still yields a strong 5.09%. Cenovus has a five-year history or reliable dividend payments, another positive sign for return-minded investors.Randy Ollenberger, from BMO Capital, believes Cenovus occupies a firm position in the industry. Ollenberger writes of the company’s mid-term prospects: “Although we believe 2020 to be a tough year for Cenovus and its peer group, we see its ample liquidity position as being crucial in navigating this current downturn. As of Q1, the company is sitting with ~$4.8 billion of liquidity… Cenovus’ minimal sustaining capex requirements and low operating costs make it well positioned for a commodity price recovery. As a result, we believe that Cenovus will have industry leading free cash flow yields moving into 2021…”In line with this bullish outlook, Ollenberger sets a price target of $6.50 Canadian, or $4.61 in US dollars. This implies an upside to the stock of 24%, a nice complement to the dividend yield, and supportive of his Buy rating. (To watch Ollenberger’s track record, click here)The analyst corps is somewhat divided on this stock; out of 12 recent reviews, 6 are Buys, 5 are Holds, and 1 is a Sell. The consensus rating is a Moderate Buy. The average price target, at $4.57, is in line with Ollenberger’s, and suggests that CVE has room for 23% upside growth in the coming year. (See Cenovus stock analysis on TipRanks)NiSource, Inc. (NI)Last on our list is a new position for Soros. NiSource is a holding company; its subsidiaries provide natural gas and electricity to 4 million customers across seven states: Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, and Virginia. NI reported declines on both the top and bottom lines in Q1.Despite the earnings declines, NI has kept up its dividend payment. The payment was raised in Q4 last year to 21 cents, and remains at that level. The payout ratio of 63%, while slightly high, indicates that the dividend is safe at current levels – and the 3.6% yield is a strong return, higher than the utility sector average of 3.04%.High returns are always an attraction for Soros, and he initiated his position in NI with 300,000 shares. At current share prices, these shares are worth more than $6.7 million. It’s a solid base for future gains, in an industry that benefits from a guaranteed customer base; power utilities are another essential niche in the modern economy.Covering NI stock for Wolfe Research, Steve Fleishman writes, “We see above-average rate base and earnings growth potential for NiSource relative to other electric and natural gas distribution utilities… We see NI as a de-risking story in 2020 with an upward bias on rate base / EPS growth due to renewable investment opportunities…”Fleishman reiterates his Buy rating on NI shares. He backs it with a $26 price target that implies an upside potential of 16%. (To watch Fleishman’s track record, click here)The analyst consensus rating on NI is an evenly split Moderate Buy, with 5 reviewers giving it a Buy and 5 giving it a Hold. Shares hold an average price target of $28.22, which indicates a 26% premium from the current share price of $22.37. (See NiSource stock analysis on TipRanks)To find good ideas for dividend stocks trading at attractive valuations, visit TipRanks’ Best Stocks to Buy, a newly launched tool that unites all of TipRanks’ equity insights.

Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (the "Company" or "Marcus & Millichap") (NYSE: MMI) has changed its 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders (the "Annual Meeting") from an in-person meeting to a virtual-only meeting in response to current public health guidance regarding the COVID-19 pandemic and for the safety of participants. As previously announced, the Annual Meeting will be held on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time for stockholders of record as of the close of business on March 6, 2020.

AGNC Investment and Capstead Mortgage focus on safer agency-guaranteed mortgages, Bank of America analysts note.

AGNC Investment (AGNC) delivered earnings and revenue surprises of 1.79% and -81.50%, respectively, for the quarter ended March 2020. Do the numbers hold clues to what lies ahead for the stock?

AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) ("AGNC" or the "Company") announced today that its Board of Directors has declared a cash dividend of $0.12 per share of common stock for May 2020. The dividend is payable on June 9, 2020 to common stockholders of record as of May 29, 2020.

While real estate firms across the U.S. slash salaries and head counts, one local firm is hiring. Calabasas, California-based Marcus & Millichap Inc. (NYSE: MMI) plans to grow its Orlando staff by at least 10 new people in the coming weeks as it renovates and expands its downtown office space, Vice President and Regional Manager Justin West told Orlando Business Journal. The company is hiring for sales agents, staff members and marketing positions and expects to have four new agents start in May. Marcus & Millichap also is expanding its downtown office space by 3,500 square feet as it brings together its recent acquisition of apartment brokerage team Justin Basquill, Shelton Granade Jr. and Luke Wickham under one roof.

AGNC earnings call for the period ending March 31, 2020.

In the latest trading session, AGNC Investment (AGNC) closed at $12.36, marking a +1.35% move from the previous day.

Planning and forethought is extremely important when navigating this market environment.Leeroy Jenkins stands as an example of poor planning and lacking forethought.I share picks off of my weekly watch list for your consideration.

AGNC Investment Corp. (NASDAQ: AGNC) is a mortgage real estate investment trust (mREIT) that specializes in mortgage-backed securities guaranteed by the U.S. government. Like every other mortgage REIT over the past couple months, AGNC has taken its lumps as margin calls have forced it to deleverage.

Mortgage REITs have taken center-stage over the last two months - and for the wrong reasons - amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. mREITs plunged nearly 70% in March before recovering.Extreme and unprecedented levels of interest rate volatility triggered a …

I am projecting AGNC will report a very severe BV decrease for the first quarter of 2020. All sector peers will experience varying severities of decreases. This projection is mainly due to notable net valuation losses within AGNC’s derivatives portfol…

Soros' 13F portfolio value decreased from $3.09B to $1.98B this quarter. The number of positions decreased from 173 to 118.Soros increased D.R. Horton, Peloton Interactive, and Activision Blizzard, while reducing Alphabet and Vistra Energy.Liberty Broadband a…