MFA Financial (STU:M4ZA) Moat Score: 2/10 (As of Aug. 03, 2026)

Author: Vera Yuan Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Vera Yuan
Director of Data and Quant Analytics at GuruFocus
Focused on building reliable datasets, financial models, and research tools for value-minded investors. Committed to turning complex data into practical guidance for value-investing and long-term wealth.
Reviewed by: Charlie Tian Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Charlie Tian
Founder & CEO of GuruFocus
Dr. Charlie Tian is the founder and CEO of GuruFocus.com, a leading global investment research platform established in 2004. With a Ph.D. in physics, Dr. Tian transitioned from science to finance, applying a data-driven, disciplined approach to value investing.

STU:M4ZA MFA Financial Inc STU:M4ZA
57 GF Score
Price €7.91
GF Value €9.35
Valuation Modestly Undervalued
! 4 Warning Signs
View Full Analysis

What is MFA Financial Moat Score?

MFA Financial STU:M4ZA -0.82% 57 Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 03, 2026. GuruFocus rates STU:M4ZA with a GF Score™ of 57/100 and a GF Value™ of €9.35 (Modestly Undervalued). The stock has 4 warning signs investors should review. Among 969 REITs companies, MFA Financial ranks better than 70.07% on this metric.

MFA Financial has the Moat Score of 2, which implies that the company might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

MFA Financial has No Moat: MFA Financial Inc operates in a highly competitive mortgage REIT sector with limited differentiation. It lacks significant customer switching costs, proprietary technology, or strong brand loyalty. The company does not possess durable cost advantages or regulatory barriers that would provide a sustainable competitive edge.

Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more.

The company's Moat Score is based on these criteria:

1. Market leadership and sustainable market share
2. Network effects and significant customer switching costs
3. Valuable intellectual property and patents
4. Strong brand strength and deep customer loyalty
5. Durable cost advantages (e.g., economies of scale, proprietary technology)
6. Significant regulatory barriers and exclusive licenses
7. Superior distribution network
8. Strong and sustainable pricing power
9. Consistent and impactful innovation and R&D capabilities

Based on the research, GuruFocus believes MFA Financial might have No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages.

MFA Financial  (STU:M4ZA) Moat Score Explanation

The Moat Score ranges from 0 to 10, with 10 as the highest. GuruFocus divided Moat Score into following 8 categories:

Moat Score Moat Level
10Wide Moat - Exceptionally dominant and durable wide moat
8 - 9Wide Moat - Clear and robust wide moat
7Wide Moat - Entry-level wide moat, clearly possessing durable advantages
6Narrow Moat - Strong narrow moat, clearly distinguishable but not wide
5Narrow Moat - Solid narrow moat
4Narrow Moat - Discernible but modest moat
1 - 3No Moat - Very weak/transient advantages
0No Moat - No discernible moat

MFA Financial Moat Score Related Terms

STU:M4ZA vs ABR, ARI, PMT: Moat Score Comparison

For the REIT - Mortgage subindustry, MFA Financial's Moat Score, along with its competitors' market caps and Moat Score data, can be viewed below:

* Competitive companies are chosen from companies within the same industry, with headquarter located in same country, with closest market capitalization; x-axis shows the market cap, and y-axis shows the term value; the bigger the dot, the larger the market cap. Note that "N/A" values will not show up in the chart.

MFA Financial Moat Score vs REITs Industry

For the REITs industry and Real Estate sector, MFA Financial's Moat Score distribution charts can be found below:

* The bar in red indicates where MFA Financial's Moat Score falls into.


STU:M4ZA
57GF Score
MFA Financial Inc STU:M4ZA
Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Score™, valuation, warning signs, and more.
View Full Analysis
Frequently Asked Questions Learn more about Moat Score →
What does a Moat Score of 2 mean?
MFA Financial (STU:M4ZA) has a Moat Score of 2 as of Aug. 03, 2026. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. According to the industry distribution chart, MFA Financial ranks #290 out of 969 companies in the REITs industry, placing it in the top 29.9%.
Is MFA Financial's Moat Score too high?
MFA Financial's current Moat Score is 2. Based on the distribution chart, MFA Financial ranks #290 out of 969 companies in the REITs industry, which is above the industry midpoint. Overall, MFA Financial has a GF Score™ of 57/100 and is considered Modestly Undervalued, reflecting its overall financial health beyond just this single metric.
How does MFA Financial's Moat Score compare to ABR and ARI?
According to the REITs industry distribution chart, MFA Financial ranks #290 out of 969 companies for Moat Score. This puts MFA Financial in the upper half of its industry. See the competitive comparison table and distribution chart on this page for a detailed peer-by-peer breakdown.
What is a good Moat Score for a REITs company?
A good Moat Score depends on the REITs industry context. However, Moat Score should not be evaluated in isolation — investors should consider it alongside profitability, growth, and financial strength metrics. Use the industry distribution chart on this page to see where any company falls relative to its peers.
What does a high Moat Score mean?
A high Moat Score can signal that a stock is expensive relative to its fundamentals. Moat Score is a ranking system developed by GuruFocus to assess a company's ability to sustain a competitive advantage, rated on a scale from 0 to 10. It takes into account key factors such as market leadership, cost advantages, network effects, customer switching costs, and more. MFA Financial's current Moat Score is 2. However, context matters — high-growth companies often justify higher valuations. Always evaluate alongside other metrics like GF Score™ and GF Value™.
Is MFA Financial stock overvalued right now?
Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MFA Financial (STU:M4ZA) is currently considered Modestly Undervalued. The stock's GF Value™ is €9.35, compared to a current price of €7.91 — trading 15.5% below its estimated fair value. The current Moat Score is 2. MFA Financial's overall GF Score™ is 57/100 with 4 warning signs to review. Investors should evaluate multiple metrics — including profitability, growth, and financial strength — before making a decision.
How is Moat Score calculated?
Moat Score is calculated from a company's financial statements. For MFA Financial (STU:M4ZA), the current Moat Score is 2 as of Aug. 03, 2026. GuruFocus calculates this using data sourced from SEC filings and annual reports. See the calculation section and 30-year financial data on this page for the full breakdown.

Is MFA Financial (STU:M4ZA) Overvalued in 2026?

Based on GuruFocus' analysis, MFA Financial stock appears to be undervalued. The current stock price of €7.91 is trading 15.5% below its estimated GF Value™ of €9.35. GuruFocus considers MFA Financial to be Modestly Undervalued.

Key valuation signals for STU:M4ZA:

  • Moat Score: 2
  • GF Value™: €9.35 vs. price of €7.91 (15.5% below fair value)
  • GF Score™: 57/100 with 4 warning signs

No single metric tells the full story. See the STU:M4ZA stock analysis page for a complete view including 30-year financials, guru trades, and insider activity.

MFA Financial Business Description

Industry Real EstateREITs
Address One Vanderbilt Avenue, 48th Floor, New York, NY, USA, 10017
MFA Financial Inc is a specialty finance company that invests in and finances residential mortgage assets. Its principal business objective is to deliver shareholder value through the generation of distributable income and through asset performance linked to residential mortgage credit fundamentals. The company selectively invests in residential mortgage assets with a focus on credit analysis, projected prepayment rates, interest rate sensitivity and expected return. The company's reportable segments include mortgage-related assets; and Lima One.
57GF Score

Get the complete analysis for STU:M4ZA

Moat Score is just one metric. See GF Value™, 30-year financials, guru trades, warning signs, and more.

€7.91
Price
€9.35
GF Value