Short Interest in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Declines By 36.7%

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) was the target of a large drop in short interest in December. As of December 31st, there was short interest totalling 12,250,000 shares, a drop of 36.7% from the December 15th total of 19,350,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,180,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 10.4 days.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of EPRT stock traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $31.76. The stock had a trading volume of 696,918 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,150,393. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 12-month low of $23.58 and a 12-month high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 5.59 and a quick ratio of 5.59. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $32.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 1.39.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.16). The business had revenue of $117.13 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $109.73 million. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 46.00%. The firm’s revenue was up 27.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.42 earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a $0.295 dividend. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.72%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is 102.61%.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EPRT. Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% during the 3rd quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 611.3% in the 2nd quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,195 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Barclays began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $35.94 price objective on the stock. UBS Group upped their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $33.91.

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.