Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Shares Purchased by Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC

Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC raised its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 0.3% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 1,138,565 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,910 shares during the quarter. Essential Properties Realty Trust makes up about 2.1% of Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Heitman Real Estate Securities LLC’s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $38,882,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Quarry LP increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 611.3% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,195 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,027 shares during the period. CWM LLC raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 122.9% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,244 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 686 shares in the last quarter. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 116.4% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,945 shares of the company’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 1,046 shares during the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 27,817 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.33, for a total value of $899,323.61. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 446,076 shares in the company, valued at $14,421,637.08. This represents a 5.87 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EPRT opened at $33.41 on Tuesday. The company has a current ratio of 5.59, a quick ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The firm has a market cap of $5.86 billion, a P/E ratio of 29.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 1.38. The business’s 50 day moving average is $33.19 and its 200-day moving average is $30.73. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1-year low of $23.58 and a 1-year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 46.00%. The firm had revenue of $117.13 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $109.73 million. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.42 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 27.8% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 11th. Investors of record on Monday, September 30th were issued a $0.29 dividend. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.47%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, September 30th. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is presently 100.87%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms have commented on EPRT. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $36.25 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, September 26th. Truist Financial increased their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, October 3rd. UBS Group upped their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered 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 note on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Monday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $33.44.

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.