Kennedy Capital Management LLC Sells 33,793 Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Kennedy Capital Management LLC decreased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 7.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 402,073 shares of the company's stock after selling 33,793 shares during the quarter. Kennedy Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.23% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $12,577,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter worth about $246,000. Janus Henderson Group PLC increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 10.3% during the third quarter. Janus Henderson Group PLC now owns 100,971 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,449,000 after purchasing an additional 9,420 shares in the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Point72 Asset Management L.P. bought a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $281,000. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 23,597 shares of the company's stock worth $806,000 after buying an additional 2,119 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of EPRT stock traded up $0.14 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $31.47. 496,171 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,399,419. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a current ratio of 5.36. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.91 billion, a PE ratio of 27.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $24.72 and a 12 month high of $34.88. The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $31.57 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.15.

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Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 EPS 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, research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.75%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is currently 103.51%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total value of $406,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at $5,817,663.90. The trade was a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays cut 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 note on Tuesday, February 4th. B. Riley lowered shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Capital One Financial initiated 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 target price on the stock. Finally, Scotiabank reduced their price target on shares of 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. Three investment 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, Essential Properties Realty Trust has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $34.91.

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.