Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Given Consensus Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) has been assigned a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" from the fifteen analysts that are presently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $33.91.

A number of research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $36.25 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, December 11th. They set a "buy" rating and a $38.00 price objective on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 0.9 %

Shares of NYSE:EPRT traded up $0.29 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $31.95. 383,894 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,322,625. The company has a quick ratio of 5.59, a current ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business's 50 day moving average is $32.95 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.60 billion, a PE ratio of 27.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.38. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a one year low of $23.58 and a one year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.16). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 46.00% and a return on equity of 6.20%. The business had revenue of $117.13 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.73 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.42 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be issued a $0.295 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, December 31st. This is a boost from Essential Properties Realty Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.69%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 102.61%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.0% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,033,209 shares of the company's stock worth $345,535,000 after purchasing an additional 96,615 shares in the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.7% during the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,468,922 shares of the company's stock valued at $152,642,000 after buying an additional 118,927 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,138,674 shares of the company's stock worth $141,336,000 after buying an additional 76,475 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,829,776 shares of the company's stock worth $96,637,000 after buying an additional 141,612 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lifted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 11.4% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,575,683 shares of the company's stock valued at $71,372,000 after acquiring an additional 264,052 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.