Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Position Boosted by Hazelview Securities Inc.

Hazelview Securities Inc. increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 112.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 867,585 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 460,065 shares during the quarter. Essential Properties Realty Trust makes up approximately 4.3% of Hazelview Securities Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest position. Hazelview Securities Inc. owned about 0.51% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $22,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the stock. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors increased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 71.4% during the fourth quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 1,200 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. bought a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $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 raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 15.5% in the fourth quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 6,567 shares of the company’s stock worth $168,000 after acquiring an additional 881 shares during the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have issued reports on EPRT. Citigroup raised Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $25.00 to $28.50 in a report on Friday, March 22nd. UBS Group began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Friday, May 31st. They set a “buy” rating and a $30.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 29th. Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Finally, B. Riley reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $29.00 target price (up previously from $27.50) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, March 13th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $28.60.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE EPRT traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $27.00. 363,898 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,353,207. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $20.49 and a 12 month high of $28.18. The company has a market capitalization of $4.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.02, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 7.61 and a quick ratio of 7.61. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $26.89 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $25.83.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 28th. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.30%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is currently 92.68%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 25,000 shares of the business’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 transaction, the director now directly owns 247,492 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,704,558.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.81% of the company’s stock.

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.