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

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) have been given an average rating of “Buy” by the nine analysts that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating. The average twelve-month price target among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $28.22.

A number of brokerages have recently commented on EPRT. BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $29.00 price target for the company. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $27.50 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Tuesday, March 19th. Citigroup raised shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $25.00 to $28.50 in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Mizuho reduced their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 7th. Finally, B. Riley restated a “buy” rating and issued a $29.00 price target (up from $27.50) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, March 13th.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $24.91 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.14 and a 200 day simple moving average of $24.29. The stock has a market cap of $4.22 billion, a PE ratio of 20.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 1.27. The company has a quick ratio of 5.01, a current ratio of 5.01 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $20.49 and a 12 month high of $26.77.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th were given a $0.285 dividend. This represents a $1.14 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, March 27th. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently 91.94%.

Insider Activity at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 9,188 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.01, for a total transaction of $238,979.88. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 554,904 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,433,053.04. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 11,904 shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.35, for a total value of $289,862.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 571,606 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $13,918,606.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 9,188 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.01, for a total transaction of $238,979.88. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 554,904 shares in the company, valued at $14,433,053.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 44,524 shares of company stock valued at $1,113,438. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EPRT. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 24,730,518 shares of the company’s stock valued at $534,921,000 after buying an additional 134,840 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.8% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 11,118,105 shares of the company’s stock worth $281,288,000 after purchasing an additional 92,469 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 3.8% in the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 9,514,224 shares of the company’s stock valued at $226,581,000 after purchasing an additional 347,171 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 36.6% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 6,015,270 shares of the company’s stock valued at $130,110,000 after purchasing an additional 1,611,484 shares during the period. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 5,856,247 shares of the company’s stock worth $126,671,000 after buying an additional 624,439 shares during the last quarter. 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.