SAFE Stock Touches 52-Week Low at $15.489 Amid Market Challenges
April 8, 2025, 11:53 AM PDT — Safehold Inc. (NYSE: SAFE), a real estate investment trust (REIT) specializing in ground leases, saw its stock plummet to a 52-week low of $15.489 on Tuesday, reflecting a steep decline amid a broader market rout triggered by President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. The stock, which opened at $16.91 and hit a high of $17.21 earlier in the session, closed the trading day at $15.489—down from its previous day’s close of $16.57—marking its lowest point in the past year, according to real-time financial data.
The drop comes as Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement—a 10% baseline duty on all imports, with 34% on China and 25% on Canada and Mexico—continues to roil global markets. The S&P 500 has shed $5 trillion since the rollout, and SAFE’s slide mirrors the pressure on REITs, which rely heavily on stable economic conditions and financing costs. Intraday trading showed a steady descent, with SAFE dipping to $15.62 by 1:15 PM PDT and settling at $15.489 by 2:45 PM PDT—a 6.5% drop from its opening price. Over the past month, the stock has fallen from $19.19 on March 10 to today’s low, a 19.2% decline, while its year-to-date loss stands at 15% from April 2024’s $18.24.
Market Headwinds Batter SAFE
Analysts attribute SAFE’s woes to a mix of macroeconomic turbulence and sector-specific strains. Trump’s tariffs, escalating to 50% on 57 nations by April 9, have spiked inflation fears, with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warning Monday of potential rate hikes that could squeeze REITs’ borrowing costs. SAFE, which boasts a portfolio of 148 properties and $7 billion in assets, thrives on long-term ground leases—a model sensitive to interest rate shifts. “Rising rates and trade uncertainty are a double whammy for REITs like SAFE,” said Mark Tepper of Strategic Wealth Partners, noting the stock’s year-high of $28.80 in July 2024 feels like a distant memory.
The broader REIT sector isn’t faring much better. Posts on X highlight a “bloodbath” for real estate stocks, with one user noting, “SAFE at $15.489—market’s punishing anything tied to financing right now.” Bitcoin’s dip below $75,000 and a 1,400-point pre-market Dow plunge underscore the panic, but SAFE’s 52-week low—slightly below the $15.54 reported elsewhere—signals acute vulnerability. Its one-year range, from $15.346 to $28.80, paints a stark picture of a stock caught in the tariff tempest.
A Glimmer of Resilience?
Despite the gloom, SAFE’s fundamentals offer some hope. The company’s focus on ground leases—long-term, low-risk agreements—has historically cushioned it against volatility. Yet with no recent earnings data in today’s snapshot and a market cap unavailable, investors are left parsing real-time price action. The stock’s 1-month slide from $18.72 on March 31 to $15.489 today outpaces the S&P 500’s 9.1% two-day drop last week, suggesting SAFE’s woes may also reflect sector-specific jitters beyond Trump’s trade war.
For now, SAFE’s descent to $15.489—confirmed by the latest tick at 2:45 PM PDT—marks a critical juncture. As Powell’s speech looms and tariff retaliations from China (34%) and others pile on, investors eye whether this 52-week low signals a buying opportunity or a deeper spiral. One X post mused, “SAFE at $15.489—undervalued or toast?” With markets in freefall, the answer hangs in the balance.