Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Given Consensus Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) has been given a consensus recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by the eleven analysts that are currently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have covered the stock in the last year is $52.09.

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on GLPI shares. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. JMP Securities reissued a “market outperform” rating and set a $53.00 target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research report on Monday, March 4th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 21st. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $49.00 and set an “outperform” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, February 29th.

Insider Transactions at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In related news, Director E Scott Urdang acquired 2,500 shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $45.00 per share, for a total transaction of $112,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 156,685 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $7,050,825. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 4.40% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Gaming and Leisure Properties

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. EdgeRock Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 4th quarter valued at $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC raised its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 416.7% in the 1st quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 744 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $34,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mather Group LLC. purchased a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 1st quarter valued at $42,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.14% of the company’s stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Down 2.2 %

GLPI opened at $42.46 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.43 and a beta of 0.94. Gaming and Leisure Properties has a fifty-two week low of $41.80 and a fifty-two week high of $52.31. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 7.41 and a current ratio of 7.41. The firm’s fifty day moving average is $44.87 and its 200 day moving average is $45.91.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th were given a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.16%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 14th. This is an increase from Gaming and Leisure Properties’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. Gaming and Leisure Properties’s payout ratio is currently 109.75%.

About Gaming and Leisure Properties

GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.