Annaly Capital Management Inc. (NLY): Today's Featured Financial Winner

Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.

Annaly Capital Management ( NLY) pushed the Financial sector higher today making it today's featured financial winner. The sector as a whole was unchanged today. By the end of trading, Annaly Capital Management rose $0.27 (2.8%) to $10.09 on average volume. Throughout the day, 17,995,807 shares of Annaly Capital Management exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 14,641,900 shares. The stock ranged in a price between $9.85-$10.12 after having opened the day at $9.90 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $9.82. Other companies within the Financial sector that increased today were: KKR Financial Holdings ( KFN), up 30.6%, Gaming and Leisure Properties ( GLPI), up 8.7%, Elmira Savings Bank Elmira NY ( ESBK), up 7.2% and PowerShares DB Agriculture Long ETN ( AGF), up 7.0%.

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Annaly Capital Management, Inc. owns, manages, and finances a portfolio of real estate related investments in United States. Annaly Capital Management has a market cap of $9.4 billion and is part of the real estate industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 2.9, below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are down 29.2% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there is 1 analyst that rates Annaly Capital Management a buy, 2 analysts rate it a sell, and 10 rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Annaly Capital Management as a hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels and expanding profit margins. However, as a counter to these strengths, we also find weaknesses including unimpressive growth in net income, weak operating cash flow and a generally disappointing performance in the stock itself.

You can view the full Annaly Capital Management Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Supertel Hospitality ( SPPR), down 9.6%, Broadway Financial ( BYFC), down 8.4%, BNC Bancorp ( BNCN), down 8.3% and Sorrento Therapeutics ( SRNE), down 8.3% , were all laggards within the financial sector with Invesco ( IVZ) being today's financial sector laggard.

Use our financial section to find sector-relevant news.
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For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the financial sector could consider Financial Select Sector SPDR ( XLF) while those bearish on the financial sector could consider Proshares Short Financials ( SEF).