Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. Sells 9,661 Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lowered its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 48.1% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,409 shares of the company's stock after selling 9,661 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $340,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Summit Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 18,355 shares of the company's stock valued at $574,000 after buying an additional 581 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Association increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 7.0% in the 4th quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 11,183 shares of the company's stock worth $350,000 after acquiring an additional 730 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. Natixis Advisors LLC now owns 46,270 shares of the company's stock worth $1,447,000 after acquiring an additional 851 shares in the last quarter. Xponance Inc. increased its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Xponance Inc. now owns 13,380 shares of the company's stock valued at $419,000 after purchasing an additional 874 shares in the last quarter. Finally, O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 10.3% during the 4th quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 9,397 shares of the company's stock valued at $294,000 after purchasing an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

EPRT opened at $31.58 on Friday. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $27.44 and a 52-week high of $34.88. The firm's 50-day moving average price is $32.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $31.78. The company has a quick ratio of 7.76, a current ratio of 7.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55. The company has a market cap of $6.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.08.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 44.62% and a return on equity of 6.13%. The business had revenue of $129.35 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $124.88 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.42 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.80%. The ex-dividend date is 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 payout ratio is currently 104.35%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on EPRT. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a report on Monday, May 12th. Truist Financial boosted their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Monday, May 5th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and set a $37.00 price objective (up previously from $35.00) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, May 13th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $35.06.

Insider Activity

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, VP A Joseph Peil sold 13,227 shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, June 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.96, for a total value of $435,961.92. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president directly owned 76,590 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,524,406.40. The trade was a 14.73% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.77% of the company's stock.

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.

Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EPRT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report).

This instant news alert was generated by narrative science technology and financial data from MarketBeat in order to provide readers with the fastest and most accurate reporting. This story was reviewed by MarketBeat's editorial team prior to publication. Please send any questions or comments about this story to contact@marketbeat.com.