EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) Reaches New 52-Week High - Should You Buy?

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $54.77 and last traded at $54.14, with a volume of 750 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $54.15.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an "underweight" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. UBS Group boosted their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $52.00 to $56.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a "hold" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 27th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $58.00 price objective on shares of EPR Properties in a research report on Monday, May 19th. Finally, Raymond James reissued a "strong-buy" rating on shares of EPR Properties in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $54.43.

EPR Properties Price Performance

The firm's 50-day moving average price is $50.38 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $48.25. The stock has a market cap of $4.24 billion, a PE ratio of 24.13 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a current ratio of 7.81, a quick ratio of 7.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19.

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.21 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.16 by $0.05. EPR Properties had a net margin of 28.87% and a return on equity of 8.22%. The firm had revenue of $146.36 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $155.46 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.12 EPS. The company's revenue was up 4.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that EPR Properties will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

EPR Properties Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a may 25 dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Investors of record on Friday, May 30th will be paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 6.6%. EPR Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 217.18%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other EPR Properties news, SVP Brian Andrew Moriarty sold 2,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.99, for a total transaction of $129,975.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 15,299 shares in the company, valued at approximately $795,395.01. This represents a 14.05% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Gwendolyn Mary Johnson sold 3,900 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.02, for a total transaction of $210,678.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 8,216 shares in the company, valued at $443,828.32. The trade was a 32.19% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 9,520 shares of company stock worth $502,581 in the last 90 days. 2.31% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Strs Ohio acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties in the first quarter worth $8,691,000. Focus Partners Wealth lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 13.6% during the first quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 8,861 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $466,000 after purchasing an additional 1,062 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 13.4% during the first quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 524,883 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $27,614,000 after purchasing an additional 61,844 shares in the last quarter. Empowered Funds LLC lifted its holdings in EPR Properties by 10.1% during the first quarter. Empowered Funds LLC now owns 8,746 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $460,000 after purchasing an additional 804 shares in the last quarter. Finally, United Services Automobile Association purchased a new position in shares of EPR Properties in the first quarter worth about $251,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.66% of the company's stock.

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.