Hudson Bay Capital Management LP Invests $4.90 Million in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Hudson Bay Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 156,687 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $4,901,000. Hudson Bay Capital Management LP owned 0.09% of Essential Properties Realty Trust at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.9% in the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,651,728 shares of the company's stock worth $145,506,000 after purchasing an additional 1,178,284 shares during the period. FMR LLC raised its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,422,710 shares of the company's stock worth $138,342,000 after purchasing an additional 284,036 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,948,952 shares of the company's stock worth $92,246,000 after purchasing an additional 469,610 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.5% in the fourth quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,872,955 shares of the company's stock valued at $89,866,000 after buying an additional 43,179 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at about $83,341,000. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total value of $406,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at $5,817,663.90. This trade represents a 6.53% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Corporate insiders own 0.77% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

NYSE EPRT traded up $0.28 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $32.29. 1,286,197 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,431,028. The stock has a market cap of $6.38 billion, a PE ratio of 28.32, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 5.36, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $31.57 and a 200-day moving average of $31.95. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $26.07 and a one year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01). The firm 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 45.15% and a return on equity of 6.12%. The firm's quarterly revenue was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $0.42 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were given a $0.295 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.65%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 102.61%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EPRT has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Capital One Financial began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 target price on the stock. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a report on Monday, May 5th. B. Riley cut Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. UBS Group lowered their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.77.

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.