KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc logo

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc(KREF)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$5.42
11/10/2026
(24-hour delay)

Advisory History & Simulated Performance *

*as per simulation (see disclosures)
  • ALL
  • 1Y
  • 1M
  • 1W
  • BUY Advisory
  • SELL Advisory (Profit)
  • SELL Advisory (Loss)
  • Profit
  • Loss
  • PASS (Skip)
Upturn Stock price based on last close iconStock price based on last close
Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Advisory Performance History (Simulated)Advisory Performance History info

Simulated performance—not actual client returns. Excludes advisory subscription fees, trading commissions, and taxes, which would reduce returns. Results depend on calculation assumptions and do not guarantee future outcomes. See Disclosures for full methodology, assumptions, and limitations.

Upturn Advisory & Investor View for KREF

11/10/2026: KREF (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Inc is a mortgage REIT that primarily originates senior loans for institutional-quality commercial real estate. Its main strength lies in its affiliation with the KKR platform, which provides significant underwriting and deal-sourcing advantages. The company’s investment story centers on providing steady dividend income through exposure to floating-rate commercial debt. However, it faces material risks from commercial real estate market volatility, potential credit impairments, and sensitivity to high interest rates. It is generally best suited for income-oriented investors comfortable with real estate sector risks. Investors should monitor portfolio credit quality, loan watchlist developments, and broader trends in commercial real estate valuation.

How to Read the Upturn Advisory

The Upturn Star Rating and the current BUY, SELL, or PASS advisory are generated by Upturn’s AI advisory engine based on proprietary signal analysis, price behavior, advisory history, and historical signal performance.

Company fundamentals, valuation, risks, and news provide supporting context about the business.

Investor Fit

Investor styleFitWhy
Growth investorWeak fitThe company is primarily an income-oriented vehicle rather than a high-growth capital appreciation play.
Momentum investorWeak fitKREF's price action is generally tied to slow-moving macro trends in real estate and interest rates rather than high-momentum growth signals.
Value investorMixed fitValue investors may be attracted to the discount to book value, though the risks in the CRE portfolio must be carefully assessed.
Dividend investorStrong fitThe company is structured as a REIT and focuses on delivering consistent dividend income to shareholders.
Low-risk investorWeak fitExposure to commercial real estate debt carries inherent credit and interest rate risks, which are not suitable for low-risk portfolios.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highReal estate market cycles can lead to significant swings in the stock's valuation.
Valuation riskMediumTrading at a discount or premium to book value reflects market sentiment on the underlying loan portfolio quality.
Competition risk (CRE lending)Medium / highIntense competition for quality loans can compress spreads and affect net interest margins.
Business qualityMediumWhile supported by KKR's platform, the business is sensitive to the cyclical nature of the commercial real estate market.
Dividend incomeMediumDividends are dependent on portfolio earnings, which can be impacted by credit impairments.
Execution riskMediumEffective asset management and loan workout execution are critical to preserving book value.

Price Behavior

Rolling Over
PRICE PATH

Rolling Over

The price momentum is slowing down and beginning to turn downward.

Moderately Choppy
PRICE STABILITY

Moderately Choppy

The stock has experienced noticeable price swings while retaining some directional structure.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -4.78%
Avg. Invested days 45
Today’s Advisory PASS
Upturn Advisory Rating upturn star rating icon
Upturn Advisory Performance Upturn Advisory Performance icon 3.0
Stock Returns Performance Upturn Returns Performance icon 1.0
Upturn Profits based on simulation icon Profits based on simulation
Upturn last close icon Last Close 11/10/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
KREF receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid unit economics. The rating is constrained by soft quantitative characteristics, and weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
KREF has moderate overall fundamentals (3 stars), with solid financial health, soft growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, solid cash generation (FCF margin 14.6%) is partially offset by negative earnings growth (-232.2%), negative revenue growth (-22.7%), weak profitability (net margin -10.3%).

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
KREF's financial health is supported by solid efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 29.0% of revenue). Liquidity is moderate (3 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
KREF's growth profile is soft, with the least-weak measure being revenue growth at -22.7% FY2025 versus FY2024. By comparison, while earnings growth (-232.2%, negative) and free-cash-flow growth (-46.4%, negative) hold the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 100.9% and approximately 69.9% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 2.68% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co LP 17.45%
BlackRock Inc 10.29%
Long Pond Capital, LP 10.14%
UBS Group AG 6.35%
Nomura Holdings Inc 4.72%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
KREF generates approximately $883 of gross profit, $593 of operating income, and $146 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Strong margins and weak cash conversion support the rating, although capital efficiency remains weak.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: 0.31%

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
KREF has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while soft valuation.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Small / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 326.65M USD
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 7
Price to earnings Ratio -
1Y Target Price 7
Volume (30-day avg) 1.0M shares
Beta 0.95
52 Weeks Range 4.93 - 8.23
Updated Date 11/10/2026
52 Weeks Range 4.93 - 8.23
Updated Date 11/10/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 12.37%
Basic EPS (TTM) -3.58

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Commercial Real Estate LendingInterest income from senior floating-rate loans secured by properties like office buildings, apartments, and industrial assets.KREF acts like a bank for commercial real estate, earning money from the interest paid on loans.

Earnings Date

Report Date 2026-10-28
When After Market
Estimate 0.03
Actual 0.06

Profitability

Profit Margin -
Operating Margin (TTM) 19.85%

Management Effectiveness

Return on Assets (TTM) -3.46%
Return on Equity (TTM) -17.94%

Valuation

Trailing PE -
Forward PE 11.67
Enterprise Value 3.57B
Price to Sales(TTM) 326.45
Enterprise Value 3.57B
Price to Sales(TTM) 326.45
Enterprise Value to Revenue 41.26
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 57.31M
Shares Floating 40.09M
Shares Outstanding 57.31M
Shares Floating 40.09M
Percent Insiders 2.68
Percent Institutions 100.89

Financial Metrics

🧭 Investment Snapshot

Total Revenue (Scale)

Information icon Total money earned from selling products or services before any costs. It is needed to understand the scale of the business and its ability to generate income.

Net Income (Profit)

Information icon Final profit after all expenses, interest, and taxes are deducted. It is needed to determine the overall profitability available to shareholders.

Free Cash Flow (Cash Strength)

Information icon Cash remaining after operating activities and capital expenditures, showing cash available for growth. It is needed to evaluate the company’s ability to invest, pay dividends, or reduce debt.

📈 Growth & Strength

Operating Income (Core Profit)

Information icon Profit from core operations after deducting all operating expenses. It is needed to measure how efficiently the company runs its primary business activities.

EBITDA (Cash Earnings)

Information icon Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, indicating operating cash potential. It is needed to compare operating performance across companies without accounting or financing differences.

Gross Profit (Unit Profitability)

Information icon Revenue minus cost of revenue, showing profit after direct production costs. It is needed to evaluate core business profitability before overhead expenses.

🛡️ Financial Safety

Cash (Liquidity Buffer)

Information icon Total cash and cash equivalents on hand. It is needed to evaluate immediate liquidity and financial flexibility.

Total Debt (Leverage Risk)

Information icon Total debt including both short-term and long-term components. It is needed to assess the company’s leverage and financial risk.

Net Working Capital (Short-Term Health)

Information icon Current assets minus current liabilities, indicating short-term liquidity strength. It is needed to assess whether the company can meet its short-term obligations.

🧱 Balance Sheet Strength

Stockholder Equity (Net Worth)

Information icon Total equity value held by shareholders. It is needed to understand the net worth of the company from the owners’ perspective.

Total Assets (Asset Base)

Information icon The full value of everything the company owns, including cash, inventory, equipment, and investments. It is needed to understand the resource base used to generate revenue.

Income Before Tax (Pre-Tax Earnings)

Information icon Income before provision for income taxes. It is needed to analyze profitability independent of tax structures.

⚙️ Cost & Drag Factors

Cost of Revenue (Production Cost)

Information icon Direct costs required to produce and deliver the products or services sold. It is needed to assess efficiency in production and service delivery.

Total Operating Expenses (Operating Cost)

Information icon Indirect costs of running the business such as salaries, marketing, and administration. It is needed to understand how much it costs to sustain ongoing business operations.

Income Tax Expense (Tax Drag)

Information icon Amount of taxes paid or payable to the government. It is needed to evaluate the impact of taxation on overall profitability.

Form CRS provides a relationship summary of our automated advisory services, flat subscription fees, and conflicts of interest. Form ADV Part 2A brochure contains complete details on services, billing, and disclosures. If any summary differs from our current regulatory filings, the filed Form ADV controls.