Daiwa Securities Group Inc. Has $10.61 Million Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Daiwa Securities Group Inc. lessened its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 12.3% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 339,217 shares of the company’s stock after selling 47,494 shares during the quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc.’s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $10,611,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank increased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 33.9% during the 4th quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 122,757 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,840,000 after purchasing an additional 31,045 shares during the period. Amundi increased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 235.1% during the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 323,796 shares of the company’s stock valued at $10,235,000 after purchasing an additional 227,170 shares during the period. Edgestream Partners L.P. acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $4,946,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $21,438,000. Finally, Arizona State Retirement System increased its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 50,884 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,592,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have issued reports on EPRT. UBS Group boosted their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $38.00 price target on the stock. Mizuho raised their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Scotiabank dropped their price target 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. Finally, B. Riley cut shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $29.50 to $33.50 in a report on Wednesday, February 19th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $34.48.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE EPRT opened at $31.12 on Wednesday. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $24.72 and a 1 year high of $34.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 5.36 and a quick ratio of 5.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.84 billion, a PE ratio of 27.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.36. The company’s 50 day simple moving average is $31.66 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $32.40.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a net margin of 45.15% and a return on equity of 6.12%. Analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a $0.295 dividend. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s payout ratio is 103.51%.

Insider Transactions at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.99, for a total value of $959,700.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 218,785 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,998,932.15. The trade was a 12.06 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.81% 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.