Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Earns Buy Rating from Analysts at Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft started coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) in a research note published on Wednesday, Marketbeat reports. The brokerage issued a buy rating and a $38.00 target price on the stock.

Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Raymond James upped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $28.00 to $33.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, August 21st. Evercore ISI increased their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a research note on Monday, September 16th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $36.25 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, September 26th. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $33.77.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 0.6 %

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $32.89 on Wednesday. The firm’s 50 day simple moving average is $33.05 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $31.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.60, a PEG ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.38. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 12-month low of $23.58 and a 12-month high of $34.88. 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) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.43 by ($0.16). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 46.00% and a return on equity of 6.20%. The firm had revenue of $117.13 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.73 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.42 earnings per share. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s revenue was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.68 EPS for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st will be given a dividend of $0.295 per share. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.59%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 100.87%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Asset Dedication LLC purchased a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the second quarter valued at $27,000. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% in the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 611.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,195 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after buying an additional 1,027 shares during the last quarter. CWM LLC increased its stake in 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 buying an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $79,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Company 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.