Aurora Investment Counsel Acquires New Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Aurora Investment Counsel acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 98,569 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,083,000. Essential Properties Realty Trust comprises approximately 1.7% of Aurora Investment Counsel's portfolio, making the stock its 4th largest position. Aurora Investment Counsel owned approximately 0.06% of Essential Properties Realty Trust at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of EPRT. Swiss National Bank boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.8% during the fourth quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 344,800 shares of the company's stock worth $10,785,000 after buying an additional 2,600 shares in the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.6% during the fourth quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 111,937 shares of the company's stock worth $3,501,000 after buying an additional 4,944 shares in the last quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 218.1% during the fourth quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 3,617 shares of the company's stock worth $113,000 after buying an additional 2,480 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.9% during the fourth quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 122,757 shares of the company's stock worth $3,840,000 after buying an additional 31,045 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amundi boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 235.1% during the fourth quarter. Amundi now owns 323,796 shares of the company's stock worth $10,235,000 after buying an additional 227,170 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.98% of the company's stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have issued reports on EPRT shares. Scotiabank cut 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 report on Friday, February 28th. Barclays cut their price objective 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. Capital One Financial started coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 price objective for the company. B. Riley cut Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. They set a "buy" rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.48.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total transaction of $406,750.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,817,663.90. The trade was a 6.53 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Down 0.4 %

NYSE:EPRT traded down $0.12 on Tuesday, hitting $31.76. 1,393,771 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,230,961. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.36. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52 week low of $24.72 and a 52 week high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a current ratio of 5.36. The company's 50-day moving average price is $31.66 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.39.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.72%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is currently 103.51%.

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.