Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Shares Acquired by California Public Employees Retirement System

California Public Employees Retirement System raised its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 41.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 924,388 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after acquiring an additional 270,667 shares during the quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System owned approximately 0.35% of Gaming and Leisure Properties worth $45,619,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. CWM LLC increased its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 38.7% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,954 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $89,000 after buying an additional 545 shares during the period. AE Wealth Management LLC increased its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 79.3% during the third quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 23,613 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock valued at $1,076,000 after buying an additional 10,445 shares during the period. Ballentine Partners LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties during the third quarter valued at about $416,000. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 15.2% in the third quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 22,433 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $1,022,000 after purchasing an additional 2,957 shares during the period. Finally, Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund grew its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 0.9% in the third quarter. Fjarde AP Fonden Fourth Swedish National Pension Fund now owns 121,200 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $5,521,000 after purchasing an additional 1,100 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In other Gaming and Leisure Properties news, Director E Scott Urdang acquired 2,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $45.00 per share, for a total transaction of $112,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 156,685 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,050,825. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 4.40% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Price Performance

GLPI traded down $0.97 during trading on Friday, hitting $42.46. 1,753,831 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,050,317. The company has a market cap of $11.53 billion, a PE ratio of 15.67, a P/E/G ratio of 5.43 and a beta of 0.94. The stock's 50-day simple moving average is $44.82 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $45.88. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 1 year low of $41.80 and a 1 year high of $52.31. The company has a current ratio of 7.41, a quick ratio of 7.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. This represents a $3.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 7.16%. This is a boost from Gaming and Leisure Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.73. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 14th. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 112.18%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

GLPI has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $49.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 29th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, February 29th. Mizuho cut their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 7th. JMP Securities restated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $53.00 price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Monday, March 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 21st. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $52.09.

About Gaming and Leisure Properties

GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.