Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Cut to “Neutral” at B. Riley

B. Riley lowered shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report published on Wednesday, Marketbeat.com reports. They currently have $33.50 target price on the stock, up from their prior target price of $29.50.

Other analysts have also issued reports about the stock. Capital One Financial began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 target price for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $38.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on 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. Mizuho lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $34.55.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE EPRT opened at $31.88 on Wednesday. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 1 year low of $23.58 and a 1 year high of $34.88. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $31.55 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $32.19. The company has a market cap of $5.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.96, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 5.36 and a quick ratio of 5.36.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. Research analysts anticipate that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 31st. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is 103.51%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Blue Trust Inc. increased its position 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 worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares in the last quarter. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. purchased a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 468 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp raised its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% in the fourth quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,000 after buying an additional 1,119 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% in the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares in the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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.