Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI) Shares Purchased by Retirement Systems of Alabama

Retirement Systems of Alabama grew its position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 22.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 698,623 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after purchasing an additional 128,388 shares during the quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama owned approximately 0.26% of Gaming and Leisure Properties worth $34,477,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Operose Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in the third quarter worth $32,000. GAMMA Investing LLC purchased a new position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in the fourth quarter worth $51,000. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 166.2% during the fourth quarter. Armstrong Advisory Group Inc. now owns 1,203 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 751 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise purchased a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the third quarter valued at $79,000. 91.14% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Trading Up 1.7 %

NASDAQ GLPI traded up $0.74 on Monday, hitting $43.20. 1,344,398 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,411,044. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 6.47 and a current ratio of 6.47. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 52-week low of $41.80 and a 52-week high of $52.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $11.73 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.94, a P/E/G ratio of 5.31 and a beta of 0.94. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $44.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $45.84.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Friday, April 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.90 by ($0.26). The firm had revenue of $376.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $368.44 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 16.79% and a net margin of 50.05%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's revenue was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.92 EPS. Research analysts forecast that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.66 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th were paid a dividend of $0.76 per share. 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. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.04%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's dividend payout ratio is currently 112.18%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on the stock. JMP Securities reiterated a "market outperform" rating and issued a $53.00 price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a research note on Monday, March 4th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $55.00 to $53.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a report on Thursday, March 21st. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $49.00 to $47.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. StockNews.com upgraded Gaming and Leisure Properties from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 29th. Finally, Mizuho reduced their price target on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $47.00 and set a "neutral" rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $51.91.

Insider Transactions at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In other Gaming and Leisure Properties news, Director E Scott Urdang bought 2,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $45.00 per share, for a total transaction of $112,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 156,685 shares in the company, valued at $7,050,825. The acquisition was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. Company insiders own 4.40% of the company's stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Company Profile

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.