Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Position Trimmed by Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky

Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky decreased its holdings in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT - Free Report) by 15.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 130,466 shares of the company's stock after selling 24,286 shares during the quarter. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky owned about 0.07% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $4,081,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of EPRT. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 6.4% in the fourth quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 111,114 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,476,000 after purchasing an additional 6,678 shares during the last quarter. Capital World Investors acquired a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $7,194,000. First Trust Advisors LP increased its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 41.2% in the fourth quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 224,988 shares of the company's stock worth $7,038,000 after buying an additional 65,627 shares during the last quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co raised its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.9% in the fourth quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 312,661 shares of the company's stock valued at $9,770,000 after acquiring an additional 14,691 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Marshall Wace LLP boosted its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 196.0% during the 4th quarter. Marshall Wace LLP now owns 870,316 shares of the company's stock valued at $27,223,000 after acquiring an additional 576,313 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.98% of the company's stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE EPRT traded down $0.11 on Monday, hitting $31.62. The stock had a trading volume of 529,694 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,644,098. The company's 50-day moving average is $31.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $32.08. The stock has a market cap of $6.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.74, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a quick ratio of 5.36, a current ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a one year low of $25.86 and a one year high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. On average, analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 31st were paid a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 31st. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.73%. Essential Properties Realty Trust's payout ratio is 102.61%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 12,500 shares of the company's stock in a transaction 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 completion of the sale, the director now owns 178,785 shares in the company, valued at $5,817,663.90. This represents a 6.53 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.81% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on EPRT shares. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an "overweight" rating and a $35.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank reduced their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a "sector perform" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 28th. B. Riley downgraded Essential Properties Realty Trust from a "buy" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Finally, Barclays reduced their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $34.91.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Company Profile

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.