Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Receives Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” from Analysts

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) have been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the fifteen ratings firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $34.48.

Several equities analysts have weighed in on the stock. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $38.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank lowered their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, Capital One Financial began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 price target for the company.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

EPRT opened at $32.29 on Friday. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $31.66 and its 200 day simple moving average is $32.39. The stock has a market cap of $6.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.36. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $24.72 and a 1-year high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 5.36 and a quick ratio of 5.36.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.65%. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is currently 103.51%.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total value of $406,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,817,663.90. This trade represents a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 228.5% in the fourth quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 44,270 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,385,000 after buying an additional 30,794 shares during the period. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $100,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 252,936 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,912,000 after acquiring an additional 2,051 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,130,570 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,364,000 after purchasing an additional 44,041 shares during the period. Finally, Two Sigma Advisers LP boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 57.6% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 137,100 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,288,000 after purchasing an additional 50,100 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Essential Properties Realty Trust

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc, a real estate company, acquires, owns, and manages single-tenant properties in the United States. The company leases its properties to middle-market companies, such as restaurants, car washes, automotive services, medical and dental services, convenience stores, equipment rental, entertainment, early childhood education, grocery, and health and fitness on a long-term basis.