KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS Makes New Investment in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 34,900 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,100,000.

A number of other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp raised its holdings in 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 during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.7% during the 3rd 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 in the last quarter. FMR LLC lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,138,674 shares of the company's stock valued at $141,336,000 after buying an additional 76,475 shares in the last quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 18.9% during the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,948,952 shares of the company's stock valued at $92,246,000 after acquiring an additional 469,610 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,872,955 shares of the company's stock worth $89,866,000 after acquiring an additional 43,179 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 178,785 shares of the company's stock, valued at $5,817,663.90. This represents a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EPRT has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. B. Riley lowered Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the stock from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $38.00 price target on the stock. Capital One Financial started coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. 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 on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.91.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Down 2.3 %

NYSE EPRT traded down $0.75 during trading on Thursday, hitting $31.85. The stock had a trading volume of 2,615,676 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,372,801. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $24.72 and a one year high of $34.88. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.90 and a 200 day simple moving average of $32.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a current ratio of 5.36.

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

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.295 dividend. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio 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.