Stifel Financial Corp Increases Position in Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Stifel Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. (NASDAQ:GLPI - Free Report) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 172,808 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock after acquiring an additional 10,494 shares during the period. Stifel Financial Corp owned approximately 0.06% of Gaming and Leisure Properties worth $8,322,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $31,000. CKW Financial Group increased its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its position 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 in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB bought a new position in Gaming and Leisure Properties in the 3rd quarter valued at about $66,000. Finally, UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties by 57.4% during the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 1,368 shares of the real estate investment trust's stock worth $66,000 after buying an additional 499 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 91.14% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at Gaming and Leisure Properties

In related news, Director E Scott Urdang sold 5,000 shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $49.72, for a total value of $248,600.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 145,953 shares of the company's stock, valued at $7,256,783.16. The trade was a 3.31 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Matthew Demchyk sold 1,903 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.99, for a total transaction of $98,936.97. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 41,298 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $2,147,083.02. This represents a 4.40 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 22,842 shares of company stock worth $1,153,961 over the last ninety days. Insiders own 4.37% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Mizuho increased their target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Thursday, April 3rd. Scotiabank reduced their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $49.00 and set a "sector perform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on shares of Gaming and Leisure Properties from $56.00 to $54.00 and set an "outperform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Gaming and Leisure Properties from $50.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 10th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $54.70.

Gaming and Leisure Properties Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:GLPI traded down $0.67 during trading on Thursday, hitting $47.19. 1,739,015 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,264,790. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.62, a current ratio of 11.35 and a quick ratio of 11.35. Gaming and Leisure Properties, Inc. has a 52-week low of $42.86 and a 52-week high of $52.60. The company has a market cap of $12.97 billion, a PE ratio of 16.44, a P/E/G ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.72. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $49.32 and a 200 day moving average of $49.25.

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

Gaming and Leisure Properties Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.76 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.44%. Gaming and Leisure Properties's payout ratio is 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.