MFA Financial Inc logo

MFA Financial Inc(MFA)

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EXPLORE ADVISORIES AND THEIR HISTORY
QUALITY SIGNAL
1-STAR RATING
PASS
LAST CLOSE
$6.66
10/23/2026
(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 MFA

10/23/2026: MFA (1-star) is currently NOT-A-BUY. Pass it for now.

MFA Financial Inc is a mortgage REIT that focuses on acquiring and managing residential mortgage loans and securities. Its core strength lies in its long-standing experience in the credit-sensitive residential market and its ability to utilize securitization for stable financing. The primary investment story centers on capturing yields from non-agency mortgage assets while maintaining disciplined risk management. Risks include significant sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations, potential defaults in its loan portfolio, and valuation complexity. The stock may best suit income-oriented investors comfortable with the volatility inherent in financial real estate, and market participants should monitor interest rate trends and credit performance closely.

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 fitMFA is a yield-focused REIT rather than a high-growth capital appreciation play.
Momentum investorMixed fitStrong fit only during periods of rapid interest rate stabilization or spread compression.
Value investorStrong fitThe stock often trades at a discount to book value, appealing to value-oriented income investors.
Dividend investorStrong fitConsistent dividend distribution makes it attractive for portfolios seeking yield.
Low-risk investorWeak fitHigh sensitivity to interest rates and leverage introduces volatility unsuitable for very conservative investors.

Risk Profile

Risk factorLevelWhy it matters
Price volatilityMedium / highMortgage REIT stocks often experience sharp price swings based on interest rate news.
Valuation riskMediumChanges in interest rates impact the fair value of the underlying mortgage loan assets.
Competition risk (interest rate environment)HighThe sector faces intense competition for yield, which can compress margins.
Business qualityMediumMFA has a long operating history but is inherently sensitive to external economic factors.
Dividend incomeMediumDividend sustainability depends on the net interest margin achieved on assets.
Execution riskMediumManaging credit risk in the whole loan portfolio requires precise underwriting and servicing.

Price Behavior

Downtrend
PRICE PATH

Downtrend

The stock has experienced a sustained decline in price over recent periods.

Smooth
PRICE STABILITY

Smooth

The stock has moved along a generally orderly path with only modest fluctuations.

Analysis of Past Performance

Type Stock
Historic Profit -16.24%
Avg. Invested days 36
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 10/23/2026

Upturn Scorecard

Upturn Star Rating

★★★★★
MFA receives a 3-star rating, supported by solid company fundamentals, and solid analyst coverage. The rating is constrained by weak price momentum.

Company Fundamentals

★★★★★
MFA has solid overall fundamentals (4 stars), with solid financial health, solid growth momentum, and solid ownership. In FY2025 versus FY2024, strong earnings growth (+48.2%) and solid cash generation (FCF margin 8.7%) are partially offset by modest insider ownership of 1.95%.

Financial Health Rating

★★★★★
MFA's financial health is supported by strong efficiency, including operating-expense and cost-of-revenue discipline (opex 17.3% of revenue). Liquidity is soft (2 stars), which helps explain the 4-star overall score.

Growth Momentum Score

★★★★★
Revenue growth is MFA's strongest growth driver at +213.0% FY2025 versus FY2024 (strong, 5 stars). By comparison, earnings growth (+48.2%, strong) is also strong, while free-cash-flow growth (-61.9%, negative) holds the profile back, so recent growth is not broad-based across the business.

Ownership

★★★★★
Institutional ownership is 57.2% and approximately 97.5% of outstanding shares are publicly tradable, supporting liquidity and institutional participation. Insider ownership of 1.95% provides only moderate management-shareholder alignment.

Top 5 Institutional Investors

BlackRock Inc 9.36%
Vanguard Portfolio Management, LLC 4.61%
Vanguard Capital Management, LLC 4.48%
Geode Capital Management, LLC 2.62%
State Street Corp 2.55%

Unit Economics (Per $1K Revenue)

★★★★★
MFA generates approximately $962 of gross profit, $788 of operating income, and $87 of free cash flow for every $1,000 of revenue. Based on FY2025 results. Solid margins and weak cash conversion support a 3-star rating, while capital efficiency is soft.

Economic Dimensions

★★★★★
Effective Tax Rate: -0.42% (Tax Credit)

Quantitative Style Profile

★★★★★
MFA has a liquid profile. Weak momentum is the primary drawback, while elevated volatility.

Style Classification

Quality Focused

Value-OrientedHigh VolatilitySmall / Mid Cap RiskShort Squeeze RiskHighly Liquid / Institution-Friendly

Key Highlights

Company Size Small-Cap Stock
Market Capitalization 673.25M USD
Price to earnings Ratio 6.59
1Y Target Price 13.25
Price to earnings Ratio 6.59
1Y Target Price 13.25
Volume (30-day avg) 2.4M shares
Beta 1.52
52 Weeks Range 6.38 - 9.58
Updated Date 10/24/2026
52 Weeks Range 6.38 - 9.58
Updated Date 10/24/2026
Dividends yield (FY) 21.75%
Basic EPS (TTM) 1.01

How Company Makes Money

Business areaWhat it includesRetail investor read
Net Interest IncomeInterest earned on mortgage assets minus the cost of borrowed funds.The company profits from the spread between what it earns on mortgages and what it pays to borrow money.
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Valuation

Trailing PE 6.59
Forward PE 6.16
Enterprise Value 12.20B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.22
Enterprise Value 12.20B
Price to Sales(TTM) 2.22
Enterprise Value to Revenue 26.98
Enterprise Value to EBITDA -
Shares Outstanding 101.09M
Shares Floating 98.61M
Shares Outstanding 101.09M
Shares Floating 98.61M
Percent Insiders 1.95
Percent Institutions 57.15

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.