Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Shares Acquired by Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd.

Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 2.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 115,500 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 2,889 shares during the quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Asset Management Co. Ltd. owned 0.07% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $3,637,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. purchased a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter valued at $69,473,000. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC lifted its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 434.0% in the third quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,086,529 shares of the company’s stock valued at $37,105,000 after acquiring an additional 883,053 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the fourth quarter worth approximately $21,438,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in 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 last quarter. Finally, Amundi lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 235.1% in 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 in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EPRT has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. B. Riley cut shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating and increased their target price for the company from $29.50 to $33.50 in a research report on Wednesday, February 19th. Scotiabank dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $33.00 to $32.00 and set a “sector perform” rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 28th. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They set an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 price target on the stock. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of 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. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. They issued a “buy” rating and a $38.00 target price on the stock. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $34.91.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE EPRT opened at $32.45 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of $6.09 billion, a PE ratio of 28.46, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.90 and a beta of 1.36. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $24.72 and a 52-week high of $34.88. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $31.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.40. 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 (NYSE:EPRT) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates 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%. Equities research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.83 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 11th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.64%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 31st. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is currently 103.51%.

Insider Activity at Essential Properties Realty Trust

In other news, Director Stephen D. Sautel sold 30,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The stock was 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 of the company’s stock, valued at $6,998,932.15. This trade represents a 12.06 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

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.