Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC Increases Holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC raised its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 60.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 160,000 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after acquiring an additional 60,000 shares during the quarter. Lighthouse Investment Partners LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Gaming and Leisure Properties worth $7,706,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. US Bancorp DE grew its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 106.2% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 44,745 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $2,155,000 after acquiring an additional 23,050 shares during the last quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. grew its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 11.3% in the 4th quarter. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. now owns 24,560 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $1,183,000 after acquiring an additional 2,498 shares during the last quarter. Aew Capital Management L P grew its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 1,786.5% in the 4th quarter. Aew Capital Management L P now owns 761,600 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $36,679,000 after acquiring an additional 721,230 shares during the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 4th quarter valued at $49,188,000. Finally, Proficio Capital Partners LLC bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 4th quarter valued at $768,000. Institutional investors own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Up 1.5%

Shares of NASDAQ GLPI traded up $0.72 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $47.61. 2,115,409 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,293,670. The company has a quick ratio of 11.35, a current ratio of 11.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62. The stock has a market cap of $13.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.81. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $42.86 and a 1 year high of $52.60. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $48.55 and a 200 day moving average of $48.90.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.96. The firm had revenue of $395.24 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $396.27 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 51.65%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.92 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.81 earnings per share for the current year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a $0.78 dividend. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 6.55%. This is an increase from Gaming and Leisure Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 108.19%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have commented on the company. Macquarie reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Mizuho upped their target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Wedbush set a $55.00 target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Monday, April 28th. Barclays upped their target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Six investment 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, Gaming and Leisure Properties has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.63.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Gaming and Leisure Properties news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 5,000 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.72, for a total value of $248,600.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 145,953 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $7,256,783.16. This trade represents a 3.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 3,382 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was 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 approximately $2,504,817.60. This represents a 6.38% decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 22,842 shares of company stock valued at $1,153,961. 4.26% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Gaming and Leisure Properties 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.