Short Interest in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Drops By 5.1%

Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of December. As of December 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,980,000 shares, a decrease of 5.1% from the November 30th total of 5,250,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,230,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.0 days.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Price Performance

NASDAQ:GLPI traded up $0.43 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $48.16. The company had a trading volume of 1,050,814 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,300,420. The company has a market capitalization of $13.21 billion, a PE ratio of 16.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.98. The company has a quick ratio of 11.35, a current ratio of 11.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. Gaming and Leisure Properties has a 52-week low of $41.80 and a 52-week high of $52.60. The stock's fifty day moving average price is $49.80 and its 200-day moving average price is $49.35.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.25). The firm had revenue of $385.34 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $385.09 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.31% and a net margin of 51.93%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's revenue for the quarter was up 7.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.92 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Gaming and Leisure Properties will post 3.67 earnings per share for the current year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 6th were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.31%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 6th. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 106.29%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently commented on GLPI shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their price target for the company from $49.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.25 to $57.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an "equal weight" rating and issued a $52.00 price target (up from $51.00) on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research report on Tuesday, October 1st. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued an "equal weight" rating and a $54.53 price target on the stock. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $49.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Wednesday, November 20th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.00.

Insider Activity at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In related news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 3,000 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, November 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.39, for a total value of $151,170.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 146,800 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,397,252. The trade was a 2.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 4.37% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Gaming and Leisure Properties

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Franklin Resources Inc. raised its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 7.8% in the 3rd quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 12,259,224 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $641,059,000 after purchasing an additional 889,698 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 1.4% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 12,135,195 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $624,356,000 after buying an additional 162,484 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 2.7% in the third quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,080,860 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $312,316,000 after buying an additional 161,689 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 6.6% in the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 5,534,033 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $284,726,000 after acquiring an additional 341,492 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 9.3% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 4,104,552 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $185,564,000 after acquiring an additional 350,250 shares during the period. 91.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.