Analysts Set Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Price Target at $33.91

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) have received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the fifteen analysts that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $33.91.

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. UBS Group lifted their price objective 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. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target 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. Barclays assumed coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Tuesday, December 17th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $35.94 price objective for the company. Mizuho boosted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They set a “buy” rating and a $38.00 price target for the company.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE EPRT opened at $31.02 on Friday. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 12-month low of $23.58 and a 12-month high of $34.88. The company has a market cap of $5.44 billion, a PE ratio of 26.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.39. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $32.31 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.92. 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 announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 23rd. The company reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.43 by ($0.16). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 46.00%. The business had revenue of $117.13 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $109.73 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.42 EPS. The company’s revenue was up 27.8% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.68 EPS for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.80%. 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. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is currently 102.61%.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. State Street Corp boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.0% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 10,033,209 shares of the company’s stock worth $345,535,000 after buying an additional 96,615 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,468,922 shares of the company’s stock worth $152,642,000 after acquiring an additional 118,927 shares during the period. FMR LLC grew its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,138,674 shares of the company’s stock valued at $141,336,000 after acquiring an additional 76,475 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,829,776 shares of the company’s stock valued at $96,637,000 after purchasing an additional 141,612 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 11.4% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,575,683 shares of the company’s stock valued at $71,372,000 after purchasing an additional 264,052 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.