Janus Henderson Group PLC Has $3.45 Million Stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Janus Henderson Group PLC boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 10.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 100,971 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 9,420 shares during the period. Janus Henderson Group PLC owned 0.06% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $3,449,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 29.2% in the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 1,646,742 shares of the company’s stock valued at $45,631,000 after buying an additional 372,040 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 244.3% in the 2nd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 427,118 shares of the company’s stock valued at $11,958,000 after buying an additional 303,057 shares during the last quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 26.5% in the 3rd quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. now owns 244,424 shares of the company’s stock valued at $8,347,000 after buying an additional 51,196 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,503,405 shares of the company’s stock valued at $85,491,000 after buying an additional 621,445 shares during the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,138,674 shares of the company’s stock valued at $141,336,000 after buying an additional 76,475 shares during the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have commented on the company. Raymond James increased their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $28.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $36.25 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. Wedbush initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Monday, August 19th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $34.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Evercore ISI raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research report on Monday, September 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $33.77.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $33.00 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $5.79 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.72 and a beta of 1.38. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $33.05 and its 200-day moving average is $31.02. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $23.58 and a one year high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 5.59 and a quick ratio of 5.59.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.16). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 46.00% and a return on equity of 6.20%. The firm had revenue of $117.13 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.73 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.42 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.58%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently 100.87%.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Company Profile

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.