MQS Management LLC Acquires New Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

MQS Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund bought 15,210 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $496,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in EPRT. Crowley Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company's stock valued at $37,000 after purchasing an additional 1,119 shares during the last quarter. Franchise Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the first quarter worth $42,000. Quarry LP raised its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 439.4% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,451 shares of the company's stock worth $45,000 after buying an additional 1,182 shares during the last quarter. Finally, GF Fund Management CO. LTD. acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at $100,000. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In related news, VP A Joseph Peil sold 13,227 shares of the business's 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 sale, the vice president directly owned 76,590 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,524,406.40. The trade was a 14.73% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 1.4%

Shares of EPRT stock opened at $31.58 on Monday. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $27.44 and a 52-week high of $34.88. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $32.12 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $31.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.55, a quick ratio of 7.76 and a current ratio of 7.76. The company has a market capitalization of $6.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.46, a PEG ratio of 2.39 and a beta of 1.08.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data 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). The business had revenue of $129.35 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $124.88 million. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 44.62% and a return on equity of 6.13%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 24.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.42 EPS. Research 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 company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 30th will be given a dividend of $0.30 per share. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.80%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 30th. This is a boost from Essential Properties Realty Trust's previous quarterly dividend of $0.30. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio is currently 104.35%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on EPRT. UBS Group lowered their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Barclays reiterated an "overweight" rating and issued a $37.00 target price (up from $35.00) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, May 21st. Truist Financial raised their price objective 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. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $35.06.

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.

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