EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) Sees Significant Drop in Short Interest

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) was the target of a large decline in short interest in September. As of September 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,580,000 shares, a decline of 11.0% from the August 31st total of 2,900,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 577,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.5 days. Approximately 3.5% of the company’s stock are sold short.

EPR Properties Price Performance

Shares of EPR stock opened at $48.55 on Friday. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $46.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $43.20. The stock has a market cap of $3.67 billion, a PE ratio of 23.92 and a beta of 1.75. EPR Properties has a 52-week low of $39.65 and a 52-week high of $50.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 11.12 and a current ratio of 11.12.

EPR Properties Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, October 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, September 30th will be issued a $0.285 dividend. This represents a $3.42 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.04%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 30th. EPR Properties’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 168.47%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently commented on EPR. Stifel Nicolaus raised their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $42.50 to $47.50 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, August 1st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on EPR Properties from $42.00 to $45.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a report on Monday, August 26th. Raymond James upgraded EPR Properties from an “outperform” rating to a “strong-buy” rating and set a $54.00 price objective on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, August 21st. StockNews.com lowered EPR Properties from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upgraded EPR Properties from a “sector perform” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $48.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Monday, August 5th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, EPR Properties currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $48.06.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO Tonya L. Mater sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, August 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $46.00, for a total value of $46,000.00. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 42,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $1,964,660. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Gwendolyn Mary Johnson sold 592 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Monday, August 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.82, for a total transaction of $25,941.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 5,780 shares in the company, valued at approximately $253,279.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CAO Tonya L. Mater sold 1,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, August 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.00, for a total transaction of $46,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 42,710 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,964,660. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.13% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BNP Paribas Financial Markets raised its holdings in shares of EPR Properties by 16.1% in the fourth quarter. BNP Paribas Financial Markets now owns 14,293 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $692,000 after purchasing an additional 1,984 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. grew its stake in shares of EPR Properties by 14.7% in the fourth quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 39,633 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $1,920,000 after buying an additional 5,091 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its stake in shares of EPR Properties by 14.7% during the 4th quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 41,409 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $2,006,000 after purchasing an additional 5,317 shares during the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH lifted its stake in EPR Properties by 93.9% in the 4th quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 89,195 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $4,321,000 after purchasing an additional 43,190 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its holdings in EPR Properties by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 32,910 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,594,000 after purchasing an additional 320 shares during the period. 74.66% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

EPR Properties Company Profile

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) is the leading diversified experiential net lease real estate investment trust (REIT), specializing in select enduring experiential properties in the real estate industry. We focus on real estate venues that create value by facilitating out of home leisure and recreation experiences where consumers choose to spend their discretionary time and money.