Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Shares Acquired by Lazard Asset Management LLC

Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) by 5.0% in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 239,225 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock after acquiring an additional 11,387 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned about 0.09% of Gaming and Leisure Properties worth $11,020,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of GLPI. Anson Funds Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the first quarter worth $1,843,000. Freestone Capital Holdings LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the first quarter worth $461,000. MQS Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the first quarter worth $424,000. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund acquired a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the first quarter worth $2,396,000. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co lifted its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 0.4% during the first quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 345,923 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $15,937,000 after purchasing an additional 1,461 shares during the period. 91.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Trading Up 1.0 %

NASDAQ:GLPI traded up $0.47 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $49.45. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 1,425,927 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,341,977. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $45.43 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a current ratio of 6.47 and a quick ratio of 6.47. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a twelve month low of $41.80 and a twelve month high of $49.99. The stock has a market cap of $13.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.25, a P/E/G ratio of 5.82 and a beta of 0.98.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, July 25th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.77 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.92 by ($0.15). The firm had revenue of $380.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $377.95 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a net margin of 52.79% and a return on equity of 17.66%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.92 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.66 EPS for the current year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 7th were issued a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 7th. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.15%. Gaming and Leisure Properties’s dividend payout ratio is presently 112.18%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GLPI has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $48.00 to $50.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Tuesday, July 16th. Wedbush restated an “outperform” rating and issued a $51.00 price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research report on Friday, May 17th. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $52.00 to $52.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Friday. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $47.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, July 15th. Finally, Mizuho dropped their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $47.00 to $46.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, May 10th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $51.41.

About Gaming and Leisure Properties

GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.