Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Cut to Sell at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen cut shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report published on Saturday morning.

Other research analysts have also issued reports about the company. UBS Group boosted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $38.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 9th. Cantor Fitzgerald reissued an “overweight” rating on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Friday, February 13th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $34.00 to $37.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Monday, March 9th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, March 2nd. Finally, Raymond James Financial raised Essential Properties Realty Trust from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $35.00 to $37.00 in a report on Tuesday, March 17th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, nine have issued a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus target price of $36.60.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE:EPRT opened at $30.99 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $6.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.21, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.70 and a beta of 0.99. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a twelve month low of $27.44 and a twelve month high of $34.73. The stock’s 50 day moving average price is $32.10 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $30.98. The company has a quick ratio of 6.37, a current ratio of 6.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.31 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 31st. This represents a $1.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.0%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is presently 96.88%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, CFO Robert Webb Salisbury sold 5,851 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.88, for a total value of $186,529.88. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer directly owned 8,310 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $264,922.80. This represents a 41.32% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP A Joseph Peil sold 19,657 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.10, for a total value of $630,989.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 76,525 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,456,452.50. This represents a 20.44% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. 0.77% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 82.0% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 899 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 405 shares in the last quarter. First Horizon Corp grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 146.9% in the 4th quarter. First Horizon Corp now owns 1,131 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 673 shares in the last quarter. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 664.4% in the 4th quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 1,590 shares of the company’s stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 1,382 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 (NYSE: EPRT) is a self-administered real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and manages single-tenant commercial properties subject to long-term, triple-net leases. The company’s portfolio primarily consists of small-box retail and industrial assets, including convenience stores, automotive service centers, quick-service restaurants, fitness centers and other necessity-based businesses. Under a triple-net lease structure, tenants assume responsibility for property taxes, insurance and most maintenance expenses, providing Essential Properties with predictable, stable cash flows.

Since its founding in April 2016 and its initial public offering later that year, Essential Properties has pursued a growth strategy focused on partnering with creditworthy tenants operating in densely populated trade areas.