156,687 Shares in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Bought by Hudson Bay Capital Management LP

Hudson Bay Capital Management LP bought a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 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 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $83,341,000. Bank of Montreal Can grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 237.7% during the 4th quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 2,100,485 shares of the company's stock valued at $65,703,000 after buying an additional 1,478,451 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.9% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,651,728 shares of the company's stock valued at $145,506,000 after buying an additional 1,178,284 shares during the period. Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $35,085,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at $21,438,000. 96.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have recently issued reports on EPRT shares. Barclays lowered their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. UBS Group reduced their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, May 13th. Scotiabank lifted 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 report on Monday, May 12th. Capital One Financial initiated coverage on shares of 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. Finally, B. Riley lowered shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Essential Properties Realty Trust presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.77.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.9%

EPRT stock traded up $0.28 during trading on Friday, reaching $32.29. The stock had a trading volume of 1,286,197 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,434,662. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1-year low of $26.07 and a 1-year high of $34.88. 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 company has a market capitalization of $6.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.32, a PEG ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.09. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $31.60 and a 200 day moving average price of $31.95.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last issued 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). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. The firm had revenue of $129.35 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $124.88 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.42 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 24.9% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

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

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.99, for a total value of $959,700.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 218,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,998,932.15. This represents a 12.06% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.77% of the company's stock.

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.