Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Shares Acquired by Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 53.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 50,608 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 17,713 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd's holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $1,583,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in EPRT. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. purchased a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $69,473,000. Adelante Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 3,964.9% in the 3rd quarter. Adelante Capital Management LLC now owns 1,111,634 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,962,000 after purchasing an additional 1,084,287 shares during the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 434.0% in the 3rd quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,086,529 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,105,000 after purchasing an additional 883,053 shares during the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.0% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,503,405 shares of the company's stock valued at $85,491,000 after purchasing an additional 621,445 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 840.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 622,034 shares of the company's stock valued at $21,242,000 after purchasing an additional 555,926 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE:EPRT traded up $0.14 on Friday, reaching $31.26. The company had a trading volume of 1,113,722 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,042,487. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $23.58 and a 52-week high of $34.88. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $31.66 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.48 billion, a PE ratio of 27.18, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 5.59, a quick ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 46.00%. As a group, analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.77%. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 102.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EPRT has been the subject of several analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a "buy" rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Mizuho lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Barclays decreased their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Essential Properties Realty Trust currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.25.

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.