Shares in Anworth Mortgage Asset Corp. dropped 10 percent Thursday after the real estate investment trust reported a fourth quarter loss greater than expected.

After the market closed Wednesday, the Santa Monica-based real estate investment trust reported a net loss of $7.3 million (-15 cents per share), compared to a loss of $4.31 million (-9 cents) in the same period a year earlier.

The loss was higher than the 3 cents per share loss analysts predicted, according to Thomson Financial.

Net interest income for Anworth was nearly even at $58.6 million.

Shares in Anworth closed up 2.7 percent Wednesday but dipped sharply Thursday, losing more than 10 percent to $5.43 in early trading.