Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Cut to Sell at Wall Street Zen

Key Points

• Wall Street Zen downgraded Essential Properties Realty Trust from “hold” to “sell,” despite the broader analyst consensus remaining “Buy” with an average price target of $36.20.
• EPRT shares opened at $30.88, down 0.9%, while the company reported quarterly EPS of $0.34—beating estimates—and revenue of $161.89 million, up 18.1% year over year.
• COO Robert Jenkins sold 22,000 shares for approximately $708,840, reducing his ownership by 39.17%; insiders own 0.77% of the stock, while institutional investors hold 96.98%.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) was downgraded by stock analysts at Wall Street Zen from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report released on Saturday.

EPRT has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Cantor Fitzgerald lifted their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Monday, June 1st. Scotiabank raised Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "sector perform" rating to a "sector outperform" rating and cut their price target for the stock from $34.00 to $33.00 in a research note on Thursday, June 18th. Mizuho reduced their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an "outperform" rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, May 13th. Finally, Barclays lowered their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, July 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and eleven have issued a Buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $36.20.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Down 0.9%

Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $30.88 on Friday. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a twelve month low of $28.95 and a twelve month high of $34.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 8.17 and a current ratio of 8.17. The firm has a market cap of $6.68 billion, a PE ratio of 23.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.86. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $31.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $31.54.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, July 22nd. The company reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.33 by $0.01. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 43.51% and a return on equity of 6.34%. The company had revenue of $161.89 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $156.65 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.46 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 18.1% on a year-over-year basis. Essential Properties Realty Trust has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.010-2.050 EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.97 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, COO Robert M. Jenkins sold 22,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.22, for a total transaction of $708,840.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer directly owned 34,168 shares in the company, valued at $1,100,892.96. This trade represents a 39.17% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.77% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in EPRT. Vanderbilt University raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanderbilt University now owns 36,078 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,095,000 after acquiring an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Lido Advisors LLC boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 3.7% during the fourth quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 9,714 shares of the company's stock worth $292,000 after purchasing an additional 346 shares during the period. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 82.0% during the fourth quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 899 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the last quarter. Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 47.8% during the first quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 1,339 shares of the company's stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 433 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Danske Bank A S raised its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 26.3% in the fourth quarter. Danske Bank A S now owns 2,400 shares of the company's stock valued at $71,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

About Essential Properties Realty Trust

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc NYSE: EPRT is a self-administered real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and manages single-tenant commercial properties subject to long-term, triple-net leases. The company’s portfolio primarily consists of small-box retail and industrial assets, including convenience stores, automotive service centers, quick-service restaurants, fitness centers and other necessity-based businesses. Under a triple-net lease structure, tenants assume responsibility for property taxes, insurance and most maintenance expenses, providing Essential Properties with predictable, stable cash flows.

Since its founding in April 2016 and its initial public offering later that year, Essential Properties has pursued a growth strategy focused on partnering with creditworthy tenants operating in densely populated trade areas.

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