EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) Sees Significant Decrease in Short Interest

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,260,000 shares, a decline of 20.7% from the February 28th total of 2,850,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 713,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days. Currently, 3.0% of the shares of the company are sold short.

EPR Properties Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of EPR traded down $0.23 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, hitting $52.38. 785,287 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 593,701. The company has a quick ratio of 7.81, a current ratio of 7.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. EPR Properties has a twelve month low of $39.66 and a twelve month high of $54.25. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $49.88 and a two-hundred day moving average of $47.44. The stock has a market cap of $3.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.67 and a beta of 1.72.

EPR Properties (NYSE:EPR) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 26th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.22 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.56. The company had revenue of $149.12 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $161.25 million. EPR Properties had a return on equity of 8.22% and a net margin of 28.87%. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that EPR Properties will post 4.65 earnings per share for the current year.

EPR Properties Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 31st will be paid a $0.295 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, March 31st. This is a positive change from EPR Properties’s previous monthly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $3.54 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.76%. EPR Properties’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 221.25%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Truist Financial raised their target price on shares of EPR Properties from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Monday, March 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on EPR Properties from $51.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Thursday, February 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on EPR Properties from $45.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an “underweight” rating in a research report on Monday, March 10th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on shares of EPR Properties from $50.00 to $58.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 6th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $51.00.

Insider Activity

In other news, SVP Gwendolyn Mary Johnson sold 3,900 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $54.02, for a total value of $210,678.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 8,216 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $443,828.32. This represents a 32.19 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CAO Tonya L. Mater sold 3,120 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.90, for a total value of $161,928.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 46,827 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $2,430,321.30. This trade represents a 6.25 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 9,520 shares of company stock valued at $502,581. Insiders own 2.13% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of EPR. Brooklyn Investment Group bought a new position in shares of EPR Properties in the third quarter worth about $27,000. Synergy Investment Management LLC bought a new position in EPR Properties in the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. GAMMA Investing LLC lifted its holdings in shares of EPR Properties by 36.6% during the fourth quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,127 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $50,000 after buying an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Principal Securities Inc. grew its stake in shares of EPR Properties by 54.5% in the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 1,296 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock worth $57,000 after acquiring an additional 457 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. acquired a new position in EPR Properties during the 4th quarter valued at $60,000. Institutional investors own 74.66% of the company’s stock.

EPR Properties Company Profile

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.