Marshall Wace LLP Boosts Stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Marshall Wace LLP lifted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 196.0% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 870,316 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 576,313 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP owned approximately 0.50% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $27,223,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of EPRT. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $79,000. MML Investors Services LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 9.9% in the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 23,597 shares of the company's stock worth $806,000 after buying an additional 2,119 shares during the last quarter. Barclays PLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 118.6% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 297,989 shares of the company's stock worth $10,176,000 after buying an additional 161,697 shares during the last quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $448,000. Finally, Tidal Investments LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 30.7% in the 3rd quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 31,280 shares of the company's stock worth $1,068,000 after buying an additional 7,339 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the company's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.99, for a total transaction of $959,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 218,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,998,932.15. This represents a 12.06 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE EPRT traded down $0.04 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $32.06. 546,396 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,642,894. The company has a market capitalization of $6.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 28.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a current ratio of 5.36. The business's 50 day moving average is $31.67 and its 200-day moving average is $32.10. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $25.60 and a 1 year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.68%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 103.51%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 target price for the company. B. Riley cut shares of 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 research note on Wednesday, February 19th. Barclays lowered their target price 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. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 28th. Three equities research 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, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $34.91.

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.