Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Sets New 12-Month High at $32.65

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)’s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $32.65 and last traded at $32.57, with a volume of 763197 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $32.07.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have issued reports on EPRT shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.25 to $32.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 18th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $34.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, August 26th. Wedbush assumed coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Monday, August 19th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $34.00 target price on the stock. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, June 28th. They set a “buy” rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $31.73.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 1.0 %

The company has a 50 day moving average of $30.33 and a 200 day moving average of $27.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 4.90 and a current ratio of 4.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.68 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.37, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 1.37.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.42 by ($0.13). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.28% and a net margin of 48.12%. The company had revenue of $109.30 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $102.99 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.41 EPS. The business’s quarterly revenue was up 26.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, October 11th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, September 30th. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.58%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 94.31%.

Insider Activity at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 27,817 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.33, for a total transaction of $899,323.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 446,076 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,421,637.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 1,200 shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, July 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.00, for a total transaction of $33,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 513,264 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,371,392. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 27,817 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.33, for a total value of $899,323.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 446,076 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,421,637.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 62,592 shares of company stock worth $1,863,808. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

A number of institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors raised its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 71.4% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 1,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 611.3% in the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,195 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,027 shares during the period. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 122.9% during the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,244 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Essential Properties Realty Trust

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.