Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Receives Consensus Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" from Analysts

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) have been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fourteen ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $34.91.

EPRT has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Barclays cut their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. B. Riley lowered Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their target price for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $38.00 target price for the company. 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 target on the stock. Finally, Scotiabank decreased 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.

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Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EPRT traded down $1.43 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $29.29. The company had a trading volume of 2,052,952 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,384,413. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $31.82 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.33. The stock has a market cap of $5.50 billion, a PE ratio of 25.69, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a current ratio of 5.36, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $24.72 and a 1-year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates 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 analysts anticipate that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be given a $0.295 dividend. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is 103.51%.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.99, for a total transaction of $959,700.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 218,785 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $6,998,932.15. This represents a 12.06 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its holdings in 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 acquiring an additional 468 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp lifted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% during the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company's stock worth $37,000 after acquiring an additional 1,119 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company's stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares during the period. Finally, Franchise Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the first quarter valued at about $42,000. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.