Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Given Consensus Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) have been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven brokerages that are presently covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $29.00.

Several equities research analysts have commented on EPRT shares. B. Riley reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $29.00 price target (up from $27.50) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Citigroup upgraded shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $25.00 to $28.50 in a report on Friday, March 22nd. Mizuho upped their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Friday. They issued a “buy” rating and a $33.00 target price on the stock. Finally, UBS Group began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Friday, May 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $30.00 target price for the company.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 25,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, May 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.09, for a total value of $677,250.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 247,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,704,558.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at about $26,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 71.4% during the 4th quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 1,200 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Signaturefd LLC boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 666.8% in the fourth quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 2,492 shares of the company’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 2,167 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Quadrant Capital Group LLC grew its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 15.5% during the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 6,567 shares of the company’s stock worth $168,000 after purchasing an additional 881 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE:EPRT opened at $27.45 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $4.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.32, a PEG ratio of 2.11 and a beta of 1.35. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 7.61 and a current ratio of 7.61. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 1 year low of $20.49 and a 1 year high of $28.18. The business has a fifty day moving average of $27.06 and a 200-day moving average of $25.89.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 12th. Investors of record on Friday, June 28th will be paid a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.23%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 28th. This is a boost from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 94.31%.

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.