Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd Boosts Holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd increased its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) by 53.8% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 50,608 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 17,713 shares during the period. Sumitomo Mitsui DS Asset Management Company Ltd’s holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust were worth $1,583,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Blue Trust Inc. boosted its position in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 95.2% during the third quarter. Blue Trust Inc. now owns 818 shares of the company’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 399 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 74.5% during the 4th quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 1,096 shares of the company’s stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 468 shares during the period. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 215.4% during the 4th quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 1,211 shares of the company’s stock valued at $38,000 after acquiring an additional 827 shares during the period. Morse Asset Management Inc bought a new position in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $79,000. Finally, GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 63.1% in the 3rd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 3,173 shares of the company’s stock worth $108,000 after purchasing an additional 1,228 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Mizuho raised their price target on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, November 14th. Barclays lowered 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 note on Tuesday, February 4th. Scotiabank raised their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a “sector perform” rating in a research note on Monday, November 25th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped 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. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $33.85.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Stock Performance

Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $31.26 on Tuesday. 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 quick ratio of 5.59, a current ratio of 5.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The company has a market capitalization of $5.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.18, a PEG ratio of 2.91 and a beta of 1.40. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $31.81 and its 200 day moving average is $32.11.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 14th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, December 31st were issued a dividend of $0.295 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 31st. This is an increase from Essential Properties Realty Trust’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.77%. Essential Properties Realty Trust’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 102.61%.

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.