Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Shares Bought by State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D

State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D raised its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 4.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 156,490 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 6,372 shares during the period. State of New Jersey Common Pension Fund D’s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $4,000,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 1,942,658 shares of the company’s stock valued at $42,020,000 after buying an additional 78,577 shares during the period. Bailard Inc. boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 30,253 shares of the company’s stock worth $654,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the period. Brown Advisory Inc. boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Brown Advisory Inc. now owns 1,599,201 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,591,000 after purchasing an additional 40,087 shares during the period. New York State Teachers Retirement System boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 229,759 shares of the company’s stock worth $4,970,000 after purchasing an additional 683 shares during the period. Finally, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 8.4% during the 3rd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 90,695 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,962,000 after purchasing an additional 7,058 shares during the period. 96.98% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 17,618 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $24.90, for a total transaction of $438,688.20. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 353,303 shares in the company, valued at $8,797,244.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 5,714 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.08, for a total transaction of $143,307.12. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 565,892 shares in the company, valued at $14,192,571.36. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 17,618 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.90, for a total transaction of $438,688.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 353,303 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $8,797,244.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 44,524 shares of company stock worth $1,113,438 over the last quarter. 0.81% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

Shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $25.68 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $4.50 billion, a PE ratio of 20.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.90 and a beta of 1.27. The firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $25.32 and its 200-day simple moving average is $24.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 5.01 and a current ratio of 7.61. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has a 1 year low of $20.49 and a 1 year high of $26.77.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th were paid a dividend of $0.285 per share. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $1.14 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.44%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 92.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research firms have weighed in on EPRT. Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $27.50 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 19th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $29.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho decreased their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $27.00 to $26.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 7th. B. Riley reissued a “buy” rating and issued a $29.00 price objective (up from $27.50) on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a research report on Wednesday, March 13th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $28.00 to $29.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Buy” and an average target price of $28.22.

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.