Susquehanna Portfolio Strategies LLC Reduces Stock Position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Susquehanna Portfolio Strategies LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 72.9% during the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 30,051 shares of the company's stock after selling 80,967 shares during the period. Susquehanna Portfolio Strategies LLC's holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $801,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $48,312,000. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 18.4% during the fourth quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 9,931,196 shares of the company's stock valued at $253,841,000 after purchasing an additional 1,543,346 shares during the period. Hazelview Securities Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 112.9% during the first quarter. Hazelview Securities Inc. now owns 867,585 shares of the company's stock valued at $22,731,000 after purchasing an additional 460,065 shares during the period. Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 17.7% during the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 2,614,218 shares of the company's stock valued at $66,947,000 after purchasing an additional 393,041 shares during the period. Finally, Aew Capital Management L P boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 21.3% during the fourth quarter. Aew Capital Management L P now owns 1,609,654 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,143,000 after purchasing an additional 282,320 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 25,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.09, for a total transaction of $677,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 247,492 shares in the company, valued at $6,704,558.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 25,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.09, for a total transaction of $677,250.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 247,492 shares in the company, valued at $6,704,558.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 1,200 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, July 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total value of $33,600.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 513,264 shares of the company's stock, valued at $14,371,392. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 59,775 shares of company stock worth $1,641,734 over the last three months. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Friday, May 31st. They set a "buy" rating and a $30.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 10th. Scotiabank raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 29th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $27.50 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 19th. Finally, Citigroup raised Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and raised their price target for the stock from $25.00 to $28.50 in a research note on Friday, March 22nd. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $29.00.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.5 %

EPRT traded up $0.14 during trading on Friday, reaching $29.28. The stock had a trading volume of 1,135,446 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,570,723. The stock's 50 day moving average is $27.41 and its two-hundred day moving average is $26.05. The company has a current ratio of 7.61, a quick ratio of 7.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The company has a market capitalization of $5.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.35. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $20.49 and a one year high of $29.58.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, July 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 28th were issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, June 28th. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.96%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 94.31%.

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.