Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Reaches New 12-Month High at $27.42

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $27.42 and last traded at $27.42, with a volume of 103847 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.15.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. B. Riley restated a "buy" rating and issued a $29.00 target price (up from $27.50) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, March 13th. Raymond James increased their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Monday, January 8th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 7th. Citigroup raised Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the company from $25.00 to $28.50 in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. They set an "outperform" rating and a $29.00 price target for the company. Nine investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, Essential Properties Realty Trust currently has an average rating of "Buy" and an average target price of $28.22.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

The stock has a market capitalization of $4.78 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.17, a PEG ratio of 1.98 and a beta of 1.26. The company has a 50 day moving average of $25.63 and a 200-day moving average of $24.80. The company has a quick ratio of 7.61, a current ratio of 7.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 29th were issued a $0.285 dividend. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.18%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 27th. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 92.68%.

Insider Activity at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 5,714 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $25.08, for a total transaction of $143,307.12. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 565,892 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,192,571.36. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 11,904 shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.35, for a total value of $289,862.40. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 571,606 shares in the company, valued at approximately $13,918,606.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 5,714 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.08, for a total transaction of $143,307.12. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 565,892 shares of the company's stock, valued at $14,192,571.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 26,906 shares of company stock valued at $674,749 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.81% of the company's stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.2% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,942,658 shares of the company's stock valued at $42,020,000 after purchasing an additional 78,577 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 229,759 shares of the company's stock worth $4,970,000 after buying an additional 683 shares in the last quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank lifted its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 8.4% in the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 90,695 shares of the company's stock worth $1,962,000 after acquiring an additional 7,058 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.8% in the third quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 32,828 shares of the company's stock valued at $684,000 after acquiring an additional 907 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 129.7% during the third quarter. Strs Ohio now owns 404,160 shares of the company's stock valued at $8,741,000 after acquiring an additional 228,200 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

About Essential Properties Realty Trust

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.