KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) Receives Average Recommendation of “Hold” from Brokerages

Shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) have earned an average rating of “Hold” from the seven research firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, three have assigned a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1-year target price among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $10.00.

Several research firms have recently issued reports on KREF. BTIG Research cut KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from $10.00 to $9.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday. Zacks Research lowered shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 3rd. Weiss Ratings restated a “sell (d)” rating on shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their target price on shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust from $8.50 to $8.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Thursday.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Trading Up 1.0%

NYSE KREF opened at $7.34 on Tuesday. KKR Real Estate Finance Trust has a 52 week low of $7.22 and a 52 week high of $11.53. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $8.29 and a two-hundred day moving average of $8.71. The company has a quick ratio of 423.43, a current ratio of 407.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $471.82 million, a PE ratio of -6.99 and a beta of 0.88.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (NYSE:KREF) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.22 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.14 by $0.08. The firm had revenue of $32.72 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $26.06 million. KKR Real Estate Finance Trust had a negative net margin of 10.80% and a negative return on equity of 1.13%. As a group, research analysts expect that KKR Real Estate Finance Trust will post 1.05 EPS for the current fiscal year.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 15th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, December 31st were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.6%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, December 31st. KKR Real Estate Finance Trust’s dividend payout ratio is currently -95.24%.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting KKR Real Estate Finance Trust this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Q4 2025 results and management commentary showed strategic expansion and stronger-than-expected numbers (EPS and revenue beat), which supports valuation and cash-flow outlook. Earnings Call Highlights
• Positive Sentiment: Management outlined a $1.5B repayment target and aggressive asset resolution plans while evaluating dividend strategy — a deleveraging plan that reduces credit risk and could improve investor confidence if executed. Repayment/Dividend Article
• Neutral Sentiment: Wells Fargo cut its price target from $10 to $9 but maintained an overweight rating — a lower target but continued confidence from that shop could limit downside. Wells Fargo Note
• Neutral Sentiment: JPMorgan trimmed its target to $8.00 and kept a neutral rating, and Keefe, Bruyette & Woods also lowered theirs to $8.00 (market perform) — modest target compression but not outright negative stance from these firms. JPMorgan / KBW Notes
• Negative Sentiment: BTIG downgraded KREF from buy to neutral, reducing an important buy-side endorsement and likely weighing on investor sentiment. BTIG Downgrade
• Negative Sentiment: Zacks downgraded the stock from hold to strong sell, a sharp cut that can pressure retail and quant flows tied to third‑party ratings. Zacks Downgrade
• Negative Sentiment: Implied volatility in KREF options is surging, signaling elevated trader expectation of larger price swings (higher uncertainty and risk premium), which can amplify intraday moves and raise hedging costs. Options Volatility Article

Insider Activity at KKR Real Estate Finance Trust

In other news, Director Ralph F. Rosenberg sold 125,289 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $8.25, for a total value of $1,033,634.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 1.90% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On KKR Real Estate Finance Trust

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in KREF. Drive Wealth Management LLC raised its stake in KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 12.9% during the 2nd quarter. Drive Wealth Management LLC now owns 119,601 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,079,000 after acquiring an additional 13,658 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. grew its stake in shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 262.2% in the 2nd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 204,308 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,792,000 after purchasing an additional 147,895 shares during the last quarter. Condor Capital Management increased its holdings in shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 27.6% in the second quarter. Condor Capital Management now owns 344,625 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,022,000 after purchasing an additional 74,532 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust during the second quarter worth approximately $570,000. Finally, State of Alaska Department of Revenue raised its stake in shares of KKR Real Estate Finance Trust by 6.0% during the second quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 33,895 shares of the company’s stock worth $296,000 after purchasing an additional 1,913 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.23% of the company’s stock.

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust Company Profile

KKR Real Estate Finance Trust, Inc (NYSE: KREF) is a mortgage real estate investment trust sponsored by KKR & Co Inc The company focuses on originating, acquiring, financing and managing a diversified portfolio of commercial real estate debt and real estate-related assets across the United States and select European markets.

The trust’s investment strategy is centered on lending to high-quality office, industrial, retail, multifamily and hotel properties. Its portfolio primarily consists of senior mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, floating-rate debt securities and preferred equity positions.