Top 10 Undervalued REIT Stocks to Buy Now

7. Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC)

Stock Upside Potential: 10.65%

Forward P/E: 11.20

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 18

Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) is one of the top undervalued REIT stocks to buy now. On April 2, Citizens reiterated a Market Outperform rating on Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) and a $14 price target. The price target translates to 1.04x the current reported book value.

The positive stance is in response to the company’s strong performance record, which justifies its premium valuation relative to other Hybrid/Credit MREIT peers. Additionally, the research firm has touted the company’s book value stability and outperformance amid challenging market conditions.

As of March 31, Ellington Financial had an estimated book value per share of $13.56. The estimate includes the effect of a $0.13 per-share monthly dividend, paid in April. On the other hand, Citizen estimates that the Hybrid/Credit MREIT peer medians are 0.74x book value and 13.2% dividend yield. The board has already approved a $ 0.13-per-share common stock dividend, payable on May 29 to shareholders of record as of April 30.

Ellington Financial Inc. (NYSE:EFC) is a specialty finance company and mortgage real estate investment trust (REIT) that acquires and manages a diverse portfolio of financial assets, including residential/commercial mortgage-backed securities (MBS), mortgage loans, consumer loans, and corporate debt. It focuses on generating risk-adjusted returns by investing in niche, underserved markets and utilizing hedging strategies.