Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ Takes Position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Lansforsakringar Fondforvaltning AB publ acquired a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor acquired 87,918 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $4,234,000.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 4th quarter valued at $31,000. Quarry LP lifted its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 52.5% during the 4th quarter. Quarry LP now owns 979 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $47,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 149.8% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,029 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $49,000 after buying an additional 617 shares during the last quarter. Park Square Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 4th quarter valued at $53,000. Institutional investors own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 28th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Macquarie reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Mizuho upped their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Thursday, April 3rd. Finally, Barclays upped their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.63.

Insider Activity at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In related news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.89, for a total transaction of $254,450.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 140,953 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,173,098.17. This represents a 3.43% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 3,382 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.48, for a total value of $170,723.36. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,504,817.60. The trade was a 6.38% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders sold 16,704 shares of company stock valued at $847,949. Insiders own 4.26% of the company's stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ GLPI traded up $0.22 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $46.42. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,803,580 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,318,912. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.76 billion, a PE ratio of 16.17, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 11.35 and a quick ratio of 11.35. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $47.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $48.69. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 52 week low of $42.86 and a 52 week high of $52.60.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, April 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.96 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.96. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 51.65%. The company had revenue of $395.24 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $396.27 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.92 earnings per share. The firm's revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This is a positive change from Gaming and Leisure Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.72%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio is presently 111.03%.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Company Profile

Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc engages in the provision of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. The company was founded on February 13, 2013 and is headquartered in Wyomissing, PA.