Cerity Partners LLC Raises Position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Cerity Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 52.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 17,865 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 6,168 shares during the period. Cerity Partners LLC’s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $575,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EPRT. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% during the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 1,119 shares in the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% in the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Smartleaf Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 275.5% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 2,456 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,000 after buying an additional 1,802 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EPRT opened at $32.18 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $6.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.23, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $25.30 and a twelve month high of $34.88. The company has a quick ratio of 5.36, a current ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a 50 day moving average of $31.61 and a 200 day moving average of $32.11.

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

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were given a $0.295 dividend. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.67%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 103.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have recently commented on EPRT. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. B. Riley downgraded Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Barclays dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $34.91.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.99, for a total value of $959,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 218,785 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $6,998,932.15. This trade represents a 12.06 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

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.