Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Given Average Recommendation of "Moderate Buy" by Analysts

Shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) have been given an average rating of "Moderate Buy" by the fourteen brokerages that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and ten have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $54.00.

Several research analysts have issued reports on GLPI shares. Wells Fargo & Company reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $52.00 price target (up previously from $51.00) on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Tuesday, October 1st. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $49.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and increased their target price for the company from $49.00 to $54.00 in a report on Friday, December 13th. Barclays started coverage on Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set an "equal weight" rating and a $54.53 price target on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.25 to $57.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Down 0.8 %

Shares of GLPI stock traded down $0.39 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $47.77. 1,104,284 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,300,420. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.70, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.98. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $49.70 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $49.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 11.35 and a current ratio of 11.35. Gaming and Leisure Properties has a one year low of $41.80 and a one year high of $52.60.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.67 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.25). Gaming and Leisure Properties had a net margin of 51.93% and a return on equity of 17.31%. The business had revenue of $385.34 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $385.09 million. During the same period last year, the firm posted $0.92 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.2% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts predict that Gaming and Leisure Properties will post 3.67 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 6th were paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.36%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, December 6th. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.29%.

Insider Activity at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In other news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 6,885 shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, October 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.16, for a total value of $345,351.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 149,800 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,513,968. This trade represents a 4.39 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. 4.37% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. EP Wealth Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 0.7% in the 2nd quarter. EP Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 33,990 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $1,537,000 after purchasing an additional 220 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 0.3% in the second quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 90,749 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $4,103,000 after purchasing an additional 257 shares in the last quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC raised its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 5,433 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $280,000 after acquiring an additional 262 shares during the period. CIBC Asset Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. CIBC Asset Management Inc now owns 7,948 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $409,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. Finally, Marshall Financial Group LLC increased its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 1.4% during the third quarter. Marshall Financial Group LLC now owns 20,917 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $1,076,000 after buying an additional 289 shares during the period. 91.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Company Profile

GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.