Short Interest in EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) Increases By 7.0%

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totalling 2,150,000 shares, an increase of 7.0% from the March 15th total of 2,010,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 651,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.3 days. Currently, 2.9% of the company’s stock are short sold.

EPR Properties Price Performance

Shares of NYSE EPR opened at $40.02 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a quick ratio of 7.53 and a current ratio of 7.53. The company has a market cap of $3.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.31 and a beta of 1.65. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $41.78 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $43.88. EPR Properties has a fifty-two week low of $39.01 and a fifty-two week high of $49.10.

EPR Properties Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 30th will be issued a $0.285 dividend. This represents a $3.42 annualized dividend and a yield of 8.55%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 29th. EPR Properties’s dividend payout ratio is presently 173.60%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently commented on EPR. StockNews.com lowered EPR Properties from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on EPR Properties from $48.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Raymond James raised their price objective on EPR Properties from $50.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. JMP Securities downgraded EPR Properties from an “outperform” rating to a “market perform” rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Truist Financial dropped their price objective on EPR Properties from $51.00 to $46.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $48.05.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On EPR Properties

Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties during the fourth quarter worth about $25,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties during the first quarter worth about $28,000. Principal Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties during the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. State of Wyoming acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties during the second quarter worth about $31,000. Finally, Mather Group LLC. acquired a new stake in shares of EPR Properties during the first quarter worth about $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.66% of the company’s stock.

About EPR Properties

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) is the leading diversified experiential net lease real estate investment trust (REIT), specializing in select enduring experiential properties in the real estate industry. We focus on real estate venues that create value by facilitating out of home leisure and recreation experiences where consumers choose to spend their discretionary time and money.