Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. Trims Stock Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. lessened its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 2.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 238,552 shares of the company’s stock after selling 5,872 shares during the quarter. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Group Inc. owned about 0.14% of Essential Properties Realty Trust worth $7,462,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of EPRT. Blue Trust Inc. raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the company’s stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 399 shares during the last quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% during the fourth quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 468 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc raised its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company’s stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 827 shares during the last quarter. Morse Asset Management Inc purchased a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 58.6% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,218 shares of the company’s stock worth $110,000 after acquiring an additional 1,189 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE EPRT opened at $31.14 on Friday. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $31.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.10. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $23.58 and a twelve month high of $34.88. The company has a market capitalization of $5.46 billion, a PE ratio of 27.07, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a current ratio of 5.59, a quick ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.20% and a net margin of 46.00%. On average, research analysts predict that Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current year.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were paid a $0.295 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.79%. This is a positive change from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 102.61%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Capital One Financial assumed coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday. They set an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays dropped their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Mizuho upped their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Finally, UBS Group upped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $34.25.

Essential Properties Realty Trust 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.