Bank of Montreal Can Acquires 1,478,451 Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Bank of Montreal Can increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 237.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 2,100,485 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 1,478,451 shares during the quarter. Bank of Montreal Can owned approximately 1.20% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $65,703,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 1,119 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 827 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at about $79,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Remove Ads

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of NYSE EPRT traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $31.45. The company had a trading volume of 230,943 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,398,378. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $31.57 and a two-hundred day moving average of $32.15. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $24.72 and a 12-month high of $34.88. The company has a market capitalization of $5.91 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.57, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a current ratio of 5.36.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 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, equities research analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a $0.295 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.75%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 103.51%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently commented on EPRT shares. Scotiabank lowered their target price 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. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 price objective for the company. B. Riley lowered Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Barclays reduced their target price on shares of 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. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $34.91.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total transaction of $406,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at $5,817,663.90. This represents a 6.53 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Essential Properties Realty Trust 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.