Ellington Credit price target lowered to $6.50 from $8 at Piper Sandler

Piper Sandler lowered the firm’s price target on Ellington Credit (EARN) to $6.50 from $8 and keeps an Overweight rating on the shares. The firm notes asset managers have underperformed financials and the broader market in 2025-to-date, and in recent days, following outperformance in 2024. Sentiment and the outlook have shifted dramatically in what was initially believed to be an environment primed for alternative asset managers for deal activity and realizations following the Trump election to one that is now grappling with tariffs, a potential recession and a capital markets window slamming shut, Piper argues. Unfortunately, given the fluidity of the current environment “we will likely finish 1Q25 earnings season with more questions than answers with uncertainty in current policy and impacts to the macro and asset managers unclear,” Piper says.