Short Interest in EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) Increases By 14.9%

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) saw a significant growth in short interest in January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,550,000 shares, a growth of 14.9% from the December 31st total of 2,220,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 489,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 5.2 days. Approximately 3.4% of the company’s shares are short sold.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EPR Properties

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Global Retirement Partners LLC lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 4,117 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $182,000 after buying an additional 228 shares during the period. New York State Common Retirement Fund lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 12.0% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 235,999 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $10,450,000 after buying an additional 25,345 shares during the period. Kestra Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in EPR Properties during the 4th quarter worth about $603,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 43.6% during the 4th quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,117 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $94,000 after buying an additional 643 shares during the period. Finally, Sanctuary Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 59.9% during the 4th quarter. Sanctuary Advisors LLC now owns 23,933 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $1,117,000 after buying an additional 8,962 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.66% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on EPR Properties in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. They set a “neutral” rating and a $48.00 price objective for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $50.00 price objective on shares of EPR Properties in a research report on Thursday. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, two have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $47.94.

EPR Properties Price Performance

EPR Properties stock opened at $46.12 on Monday. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $45.23 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $46.05. The firm has a market cap of $3.49 billion, a PE ratio of 19.96 and a beta of 1.75. EPR Properties has a one year low of $39.65 and a one year high of $50.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 7.81 and a quick ratio of 7.81.

EPR Properties Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a jan 25 dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be issued a $0.285 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 7.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 31st. EPR Properties’s dividend payout ratio is presently 148.05%.

About EPR Properties

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.