Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Cuts Stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans lowered its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 62.6% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 64,563 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after selling 108,287 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans' holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties were worth $3,109,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the fourth quarter worth approximately $31,000. CKW Financial Group boosted its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 75.0% during the 4th quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 700 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Brooklyn Investment Group purchased a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in the third quarter valued at about $39,000. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB acquired a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the third quarter worth about $66,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. increased its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 57.4% during the fourth quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,368 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $66,000 after purchasing an additional 499 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In related news, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 10,474 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $48.62, for a total value of $509,245.88. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 71,757 shares in the company, valued at $3,488,825.34. This represents a 12.74 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, COO Brandon John Moore sold 3,982 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $47.84, for a total transaction of $190,498.88. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer now directly owns 278,634 shares in the company, valued at $13,329,850.56. The trade was a 1.41 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 56,064 shares of company stock valued at $2,778,908 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 4.37% of the company's stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Down 0.2 %

NASDAQ GLPI traded down $0.09 during trading on Friday, reaching $50.40. 887,396 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,221,534. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $49.49 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $49.70. The stock has a market cap of $13.85 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 1.00. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $41.80 and a 1 year high of $52.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a quick ratio of 11.35 and a current ratio of 11.35.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.95 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $389.62 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $391.54 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 51.65%. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were given a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 105.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

GLPI has been the topic of a number of research reports. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research note on Wednesday, December 18th. Barclays dropped their target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, March 4th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $57.00 to $56.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 24th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $49.00 to $54.00 in a research note on Friday, December 13th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $53.96.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Profile

Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc engages in the provision of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. The company was founded on February 13, 2013 and is headquartered in Wyomissing, PA.