Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) Downgraded by B. Riley to Neutral

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) was downgraded by analysts at B. Riley from a “buy” rating to a “neutral” rating in a report issued on Wednesday,Briefing.com Automated Import reports. They currently have a $33.50 target price on the stock, up from their prior target price of $29.50. B. Riley’s price target suggests a potential upside of 5.83% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. UBS Group raised their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, November 14th. Capital One Financial started coverage on Essential Properties Realty Trust in a report on Wednesday, February 12th. They issued an “overweight” rating and a $35.00 target price on the stock. Scotiabank raised their target price 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. Barclays dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $36.00 to $35.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on Essential Properties Realty Trust from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $34.55.

Essential Properties Realty Trust Price Performance

Essential Properties Realty Trust stock opened at $31.66 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 5.36, a quick ratio of 5.36 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59. The company has a market capitalization of $5.94 billion, a PE ratio of 27.77, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.40. Essential Properties Realty Trust has a 12 month low of $23.58 and a 12 month high of $34.88. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $31.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $32.16.

Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.31 by $0.14. Essential Properties Realty Trust had a return on equity of 6.12% and a net margin of 45.15%. Analysts expect that Essential Properties Realty Trust will post 1.83 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Trading of Essential Properties Realty Trust

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. GF Fund Management CO. LTD. purchased a new position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust in the fourth quarter valued at $100,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 252,936 shares of the company’s stock valued at $7,912,000 after purchasing an additional 2,051 shares in the last quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 4.1% in the fourth quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 1,130,570 shares of the company’s stock valued at $35,364,000 after purchasing an additional 44,041 shares in the last quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 57.6% in the fourth quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 137,100 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,288,000 after purchasing an additional 50,100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, ProShare Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Essential Properties Realty Trust by 44.5% in the fourth quarter. ProShare Advisors LLC now owns 52,874 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,654,000 after purchasing an additional 16,273 shares in the last quarter. 96.98% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.