Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Receives Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from Brokerages

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) have earned an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven research firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $29.00.

Several analysts have weighed in on the stock. Citigroup raised shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $25.00 to $28.50 in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Scotiabank upped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. UBS Group started coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, May 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $30.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $27.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Friday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $33.00 price objective for the company.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of EPRT stock opened at $27.45 on Tuesday. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.32, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 7.61 and a current ratio of 7.61. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $27.06 and its 200-day simple moving average is $25.89. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a fifty-two week low of $20.49 and a fifty-two week high of $28.18.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 28th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 28th. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.23%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is presently 94.31%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, May 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $27.09, for a total transaction of $677,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 247,492 shares in the company, valued at $6,704,558.28. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of EPRT. Deutsche Bank AG raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 31.4% during the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 5,305,696 shares of the company’s stock worth $114,762,000 after buying an additional 1,267,534 shares during the period. Hazelview Securities Inc. lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 112.9% during the first quarter. Hazelview Securities Inc. now owns 867,585 shares of the company’s stock valued at $22,731,000 after purchasing an additional 460,065 shares in the last quarter. Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 5.7% in the fourth quarter. Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC now owns 1,048,293 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,794,000 after purchasing an additional 56,990 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth about $2,401,000. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.1% during the 4th quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 95,716 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,455,000 after purchasing an additional 1,945 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

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.