Algert Global LLC Takes $3.48 Million Position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. $EPRT

Key Points

• Algert Global LLC has acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, purchasing 106,650 shares valued at approximately $3.48 million in the first quarter.
• The company's stock has seen a raised target price by UBS Group, now set at $38.00, with nine investment analysts rating it as a "Buy."
• Essential Properties Realty Trust recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.30 per share, reflecting a boost from the previous dividend, with an annualized yield of 3.9%.

Algert Global LLC acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 106,650 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $3,481,000. Algert Global LLC owned about 0.05% of Essential Properties Realty Trust as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 51.5% in the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 30,653 shares of the company's stock valued at $994,000 after buying an additional 10,420 shares during the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 3.3% in the 1st quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 53,128 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,734,000 after purchasing an additional 1,693 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 12.1% in the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 129,532 shares of the company's stock valued at $4,228,000 after buying an additional 14,032 shares in the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 37.4% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 409,365 shares of the company's stock valued at $12,805,000 after buying an additional 111,376 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Meritage Portfolio Management increased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 44.9% during the 1st quarter. Meritage Portfolio Management now owns 238,909 shares of the company's stock worth $7,798,000 after buying an additional 73,994 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP A Joseph Peil sold 13,227 shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock in a transaction on Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.96, for a total value of $435,961.92. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 76,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,524,406.40. This trade represents a 14.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Essential Properties Realty Trust stock traded down $0.15 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $31.17. 1,261,878 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,458,397. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $31.18 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.60. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12 month low of $27.44 and a 12 month high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 5.67 and a quick ratio of 5.67. The firm has a market cap of $6.18 billion, a PE ratio of 26.42, a PEG ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 1.07.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 23rd. The company reported $0.46 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.47 by ($0.01). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 44.48%.The company had revenue of $129.11 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $131.72 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.47 EPS. Essential Properties Realty Trust's revenue was up 25.4% on a year-over-year basis. Essential Properties Realty Trust has set its FY 2025 guidance at 1.860-1.890 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th were paid a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.8%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, June 30th. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is 101.69%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have recently weighed in on EPRT. Barclays dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $36.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Monday, July 21st. UBS Group lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $38.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, August 15th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Essential Properties Realty Trust has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $35.34.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Profile

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.