Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Makes New $12.11 Million Investment in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Key Points

• Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH has acquired 237,996 shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc., worth approximately $12.1 million, representing about 0.09% of the company's stock.
• Several institutional investors, including Dodge & Cox and Franklin Resources Inc., significantly increased their holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the fourth quarter of the previous year.
• The company recently reported a quarterly dividend increase to $0.78, reflecting a dividend yield of 6.68% and a payout ratio of 111.03%.

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH acquired a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) in the first quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 237,996 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $12,114,000. Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH owned approximately 0.09% of Gaming and Leisure Properties at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Alpine Bank Wealth Management acquired a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $26,000. TD Private Client Wealth LLC increased its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 64.2% during the 1st quarter. TD Private Client Wealth LLC now owns 545 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 213 shares in the last quarter. Private Trust Co. NA acquired a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $28,000. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. increased its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 1,872.7% during the 1st quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 651 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $33,000 after purchasing an additional 618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 1st quarter worth approximately $33,000. 91.14% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Trading Up 0.6%

Shares of NASDAQ:GLPI traded up $0.29 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $46.01. The stock had a trading volume of 674,314 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,444,092. The firm's fifty day moving average is $46.92 and its 200 day moving average is $48.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 7.39 and a current ratio of 7.39. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 52 week low of $44.48 and a 52 week high of $52.60. The stock has a market cap of $12.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.84, a P/E/G ratio of 10.17 and a beta of 0.72.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, July 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.96 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.97 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $394.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $397.27 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 15.43% and a net margin of 46.32%. The firm's revenue was up 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $0.94 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.81 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th were issued a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.78%. This is a boost from Gaming and Leisure Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. The ex-dividend date was Friday, June 13th. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 120.93%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.00 to $48.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a research report on Monday, June 16th. Macquarie reduced their target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $60.00 to $59.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Wedbush set a $55.00 target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Monday, April 28th. Scotiabank reduced their target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 12th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lowered shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "buy" rating to a "hold" rating and set a $51.25 target price on the stock. in a report on Monday, July 21st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $53.16.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Gaming and Leisure Properties news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 4,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Friday, June 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.58, for a total value of $186,320.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director directly owned 136,953 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,379,270.74. This trade represents a 2.84% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 4.26% of the company's stock.

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.