Resolution Capital Ltd Sells 624,937 Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Resolution Capital Ltd lowered its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 45.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 752,605 shares of the company's stock after selling 624,937 shares during the quarter. Essential Properties Realty Trust accounts for approximately 0.4% of Resolution Capital Ltd's investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest position. Resolution Capital Ltd owned approximately 0.43% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $23,541,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Invesco Ltd. boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.9% during the fourth quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,651,728 shares of the company's stock valued at $145,506,000 after buying an additional 1,178,284 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 6.9% in the 4th quarter. FMR LLC now owns 4,422,710 shares of the company's stock valued at $138,342,000 after purchasing an additional 284,036 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 18.9% in the 4th quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,948,952 shares of the company's stock valued at $92,246,000 after purchasing an additional 469,610 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1.5% in the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,872,955 shares of the company's stock valued at $89,866,000 after purchasing an additional 43,179 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the 4th quarter valued at $83,341,000. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Up 0.9%

Shares of EPRT traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $32.29. 1,286,197 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,434,662. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 12-month low of $26.07 and a 12-month high of $34.88. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $31.60 and a 200-day simple moving average of $31.94. The company has a quick ratio of 5.36, a current ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a market cap of $6.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 28.32, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.09.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.46 by ($0.01). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. The firm had revenue of $129.35 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $124.88 million. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.42 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 24.9% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 EPS for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared 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 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.65%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 102.61%.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In related news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $32.54, for a total value of $406,750.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 178,785 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,817,663.90. This trade represents a 6.53% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.77% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EPRT has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. Capital One Financial initiated coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 price target for the company. Scotiabank increased their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Monday, May 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. UBS Group decreased their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $40.00 to $37.00 and set a "buy" rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, May 13th. Finally, B. Riley lowered Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price target for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $34.77.

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.