Fmr LLC Raises Stock Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

FMR LLC lifted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 6.9% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,422,710 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 284,036 shares during the quarter. FMR LLC owned approximately 2.52% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $138,342,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $246,000. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter worth $79,000. MML Investors Services LLC grew its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 9.9% during the third quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 23,597 shares of the company's stock valued at $806,000 after buying an additional 2,119 shares during the period. Barclays PLC increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 118.6% in the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 297,989 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,176,000 after buying an additional 161,697 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.7% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,468,922 shares of the company's stock worth $152,642,000 after acquiring an additional 118,927 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on EPRT shares. Scotiabank dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 28th. B. Riley cut Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Barclays decreased their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Capital One Financial began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. Three 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, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $34.91.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at $5,817,663.90. This trade represents a 6.53 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

EPRT traded up $0.31 on Friday, reaching $32.18. 1,358,084 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,410,149. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $24.82 and a twelve month high of $34.88. The stock has a market cap of $6.04 billion, a PE ratio of 28.23, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 5.36 and a quick ratio of 5.36. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $31.59 and its 200-day moving average price is $32.13.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating 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%. Sell-side analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current 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 paid a $0.295 dividend. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend 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%.

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.