Barclays Cuts Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Price Target to $35.00

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) had its price target reduced by Barclays from $36.00 to $35.00 in a research report released on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. Barclays currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also issued reports on EPRT. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, December 11th. They set a “buy” rating and a $38.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group raised their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, November 14th. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a report on Monday, November 25th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $33.85.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

NYSE:EPRT opened at $31.68 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $5.55 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.55, a PEG ratio of 2.94 and a beta of 1.40. The company has a quick ratio of 5.59, a current ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The business’s 50-day moving average price is $31.91 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $32.08. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a twelve month low of $23.58 and a twelve month high of $34.88.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were given a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.72%. This is a boost from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio is presently 102.61%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Essential Properties Realty Trust

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% in 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 lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% in the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 468 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 1,834.4% in the 4th quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,180 shares of the company’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 1,119 shares during the last quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc increased 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 valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 827 shares during the period. Finally, Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust during the third quarter valued at approximately $79,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.98% 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.