Nomura Holdings Inc. Makes New $3.19 Million Investment in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Nomura Holdings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm purchased 66,208 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock, valued at approximately $3,189,000.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. CKW Financial Group boosted its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 75.0% during the fourth quarter. CKW Financial Group now owns 700 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Quarry LP boosted its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 52.5% during the fourth quarter. Quarry LP now owns 979 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $47,000 after buying an additional 337 shares during the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Gaming and Leisure Properties by 149.8% during the fourth quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 1,029 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 617 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Parvin Asset Management LLC bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties during the fourth quarter worth about $53,000. 91.14% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have recently weighed in on GLPI. Mizuho lifted their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Thursday, April 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Monday, March 10th. Scotiabank cut their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $49.00 to $48.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, May 12th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 28th. Finally, Macquarie reiterated an "outperform" rating and set a $60.00 price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties in a report on Friday, April 25th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Gaming and Leisure Properties presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $54.63.

Insider Activity at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In other Gaming and Leisure Properties news, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 3,382 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.48, for a total transaction of $170,723.36. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 49,620 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,504,817.60. This trade represents a 6.38% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director E Scott Urdang sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.72, for a total value of $248,600.00. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 145,953 shares in the company, valued at $7,256,783.16. This represents a 3.31% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 22,842 shares of company stock worth $1,153,961. Company insiders own 4.26% of the company's stock.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Price Performance

Shares of GLPI stock traded down $0.10 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $47.51. The stock had a trading volume of 1,328,388 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,293,809. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a one year low of $42.86 and a one year high of $52.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 11.35 and a quick ratio of 11.35. The stock's 50-day moving average price is $48.55 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $48.90. The stock has a market capitalization of $13.06 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.55, a PEG ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.81.

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.96 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.96. The company had revenue of $395.24 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $396.27 million. Gaming and Leisure Properties had a return on equity of 17.41% and a net margin of 51.65%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.92 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. will post 3.81 EPS for the current year.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 27th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a $0.78 dividend. This is a positive change from Gaming and Leisure Properties's previous quarterly dividend of $0.76. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 6.57%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's payout ratio is presently 108.19%.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Company Profile

Gaming & Leisure Properties, Inc engages in the provision of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements. The company was founded on February 13, 2013 and is headquartered in Wyomissing, PA.