Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Shares Purchased by Squarepoint Ops LLC

Squarepoint Ops LLC grew its stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 71.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,619 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after buying an additional 16,058 shares during the period. Squarepoint Ops LLC's holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties were worth $1,860,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the fourth quarter worth $31,000. Quarry LP increased its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 52.5% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 979 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 337 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 149.8% in the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,029 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 617 shares during the period. Parvin Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in the fourth quarter valued at $53,000. Finally, Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 59.7% in the fourth quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,730 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $83,000 after purchasing an additional 647 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on GLPI shares. Barclays boosted 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. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, May 12th. Royal Bank of Canada cut 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 note on Monday, April 28th. Wedbush set a $55.00 price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research note on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Macquarie reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $60.00 price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Gaming and Leisure Properties presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.50.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Down 0.4%

Gaming and Leisure Properties stock traded down $0.20 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $46.32. The stock had a trading volume of 1,228,741 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,321,061. The company has a current ratio of 11.35, a quick ratio of 11.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market cap of $12.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.81. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 12 month low of $42.86 and a 12 month high of $52.60. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $47.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $48.66.

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

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.78 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend 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 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.74%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio is 111.03%.

Insider Buying and Selling

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 value 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 $7,173,098.17. This represents a 3.43% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 1,903 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.99, for a total value of $98,936.97. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 41,298 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,147,083.02. This trade represents a 4.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 13,322 shares of company stock valued at $677,226 in the last three months. 4.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Gaming and Leisure Properties

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.