Short Interest in Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) Increases By 13.4%

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) was the target of a large growth in short interest in August. As of August 15th, there was short interest totalling 13,440,000 shares, a growth of 13.4% from the July 31st total of 11,850,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,460,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 9.2 days.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on EPRT shares. Evercore ISI boosted their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $32.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an “in-line” rating in a report on Wednesday, August 28th. Wedbush began coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Monday, August 19th. They issued an “outperform” rating and a $34.00 price target for the company. UBS Group raised their price objective on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $30.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, July 18th. Mizuho raised their price objective on shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust from $26.00 to $29.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Friday, May 10th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $31.25 to $32.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 25th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Essential Properties Realty Trust has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $31.73.

Insider Activity

In other Essential Properties Realty Trust news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 12,712 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $28.03, for a total value of $356,317.36. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 500,552 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $14,030,472.56. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In related news, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 12,712 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Friday, July 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $28.03, for a total value of $356,317.36. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 500,552 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,030,472.56. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Peter M. Mavoides sold 20,863 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Monday, July 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $27.54, for a total transaction of $574,567.02. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 514,464 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $14,168,338.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 34,775 shares of company stock worth $964,484. 0.81% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in EPRT. Asset Dedication LLC acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust in the second quarter worth $27,000. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust during the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Quarry LP lifted its holdings in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 611.3% during the second quarter. Quarry LP now owns 1,195 shares of the company’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 1,027 shares in the last quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors grew its stake in Essential Properties Realty Trust by 71.4% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 1,200 shares of the company’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the period. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter worth about $31,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.98% of the company’s stock.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Trading Up 1.2 %

NYSE:EPRT traded up $0.37 on Monday, hitting $31.91. 1,373,100 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,368,462. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a quick ratio of 4.90 and a current ratio of 4.90. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 52 week low of $20.49 and a 52 week high of $32.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.71 and a beta of 1.35. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $29.67 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.37.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, July 24th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.42 by ($0.13). Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.28% and a net margin of 48.12%. The business had revenue of $109.30 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $102.99 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.41 earnings per share. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 26.4% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.68 earnings per share for the current year.

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.