Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT) is one of the most favored real estate investment trusts according to Hedge Funds. On January 13, Richard Hightower from Barclays reaffirmed his Overweight rating for Essential Properties Realty Trust (NYSE:EPRT). The analyst also raised his price target from $36 to $37, which now results in an upside of 20%. Sunrise Realty Trust, Inc. (SUNS): Among Stocks With At Least $10 Million In Insider Spending Recently Copyright: jovannig / 123RF Stock Photo Hightow ...

Core Viewpoint - Barclays has raised the price target for Essential Properties Realty Trust (EPRT) to $37 from $36 while maintaining an Overweight rating on the shares [1] Group 1: Price Target and Ratings - The price target for EPRT has been increased to $37 from $36 [1] - Barclays maintains an Overweight rating on EPRT shares [1] Group 2: Market Outlook - Barclays has adjusted ratings and targets in the real estate investment trust (REIT) group as part of its 2026 outlook [1] - The firm sees the most upside in apartments, storage, and single-family rentals for 2026 [1] - The least positive outlook is on cold storage and retail sectors [1] - Overall, Barclays remains Neutral on REITs for 2026 [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of purchasing companies when they are attractively priced, highlighting a key lesson learned in the investment journey [1] Group 1: Investment Philosophy - The author identifies as a buy-and-hold investor who prioritizes quality over quantity in investment choices [2] - The focus is on dividend investing in high-quality blue-chip stocks, Business Development Companies (BDCs), and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) [2] - The goal is to help lower and middle-class workers build investment portfolios that consist of high-quality, dividend-paying companies [2] Group 2: Personal Background - The author is a Navy veteran with a personal aspiration to supplement retirement income through dividends within the next 5-7 years [2] - The author aims to provide a new perspective to investors to assist them in achieving financial independence [2]

Core Insights - The article discusses the author's journey in dividend growth investing and the establishment of a blog that documents this journey, aiming for financial independence [1]. Group 1 - The author has been investing since September 2017 and has a long-standing interest in dividend investing since around 2009 [1]. - The blog "Kody's Dividends" was launched in July 2018 to document the author's financial independence journey through dividend growth investing [1]. - The author expresses gratitude for the blog's role in connecting with the Seeking Alpha community as an analyst [1].

Core Viewpoint - Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. will release its operating results for Q4 2025 on February 11, 2026, after market close, with a conference call scheduled for February 12, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time [1]. Group 1 - The company will provide a webcast of the conference call available on its Investor Relations website [2]. - Participants are advised to join the call at least 15 minutes early to ensure proper setup of audio software [2]. - A direct link to the webcast is provided for easy access [3]. Group 2 - Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is an internally managed REIT focused on acquiring, owning, and managing single-tenant properties leased long-term to service-oriented or experience-based businesses [3]. - As of September 30, 2025, the company’s portfolio includes 2,266 freestanding net lease properties with a weighted average lease term of 14.4 years and a rent coverage ratio of 3.6x [3]. - The portfolio was 99.8% leased to tenants operating 645 different concepts across 48 states as of the same date [3].

Group 1 - The company invests significant resources, including thousands of hours and over $100,000 annually, to identify profitable opportunities, resulting in over 500 five-star reviews from members experiencing positive outcomes [1] - The timing is highlighted as ideal for new members to access the company's Top Picks for 2026, with a promotional offer of $100 off and a 30-day money-back guarantee [1] Group 2 - Dividend increases and decreases are noted to have a substantial effect on the share prices of Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) [2] Group 3 - Jussi Askola, President of Leonberg Capital, is recognized for his expertise in REIT investing, having authored award-winning academic papers and established connections with top REIT executives [3] - The investing group High Yield Landlord, led by Askola, provides real-time updates on a REIT portfolio, including buy/sell alerts and direct access to analysts for member inquiries [3]

Core Viewpoint - Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. has appointed Robert W. Salisbury as the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 1, 2026, succeeding Mark E. Patten who will resign to pursue a new opportunity [1][2][3]. Group 1: Appointment Details - Robert W. Salisbury has been promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, having joined the company in 2023 and contributed to capital markets and investor relations [2]. - Salisbury's previous experience includes roles at Almanac Realty Investors, Citadel Investment Group, V3 Capital Management, UBS, Bank of America, and Citigroup, showcasing a strong background in finance and investment [2]. Group 2: Company Overview - Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is an internally managed REIT focused on acquiring, owning, and managing single-tenant properties leased long-term to service-oriented or experience-based businesses [4]. - As of September 30, 2025, the company’s portfolio includes 2,266 freestanding net lease properties with a weighted average lease term of 14.4 years and a rent coverage ratio of 3.6x, with 99.8% of the portfolio leased to tenants across 48 states [4].

Core Insights - The article highlights Roberts Berzins' extensive experience in financial management, particularly in shaping financial strategies for top-tier corporates and executing large-scale financings [1] - Berzins has played a significant role in institutionalizing the REIT framework in Latvia, aimed at enhancing the liquidity of pan-Baltic capital markets [1] - His contributions also include developing national SOE financing guidelines and frameworks to channel private capital into affordable housing [1] - Berzins holds a CFA Charter and an ESG investing certificate, and has experience with the Chicago Board of Trade, indicating a strong background in finance [1] - He is actively involved in thought-leadership activities to support the development of capital markets in the Baltic region [1]

Group 1 - The recent months have seen a resurgence in net lease investments, indicating a positive trend in this sector [1] - Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) has been highlighted as a leader in the net lease market, showcasing its strong position [1]

Core Viewpoint - Essential Properties Realty Trust Inc. reported mixed Q3 2025 earnings, with FFO below expectations but revenues exceeding consensus estimates, and raised its full-year guidance for AFFO per share [2][4]. Financial Performance - The company announced Q3 2025 FFO of $0.48, which was below the consensus estimate of $0.51 [2]. - Revenues for the quarter were $144.93 million, surpassing the consensus of $138.59 million [2]. - The company raised its full-year 2025 guidance for AFFO per share to a range of $1.87 to $1.89 [4]. - For full-year 2026, the expected AFFO per share is projected to be between $1.98 and $2.04 [4]. Investment Insights - The stock price of Essential Properties has a 52-week range of $27.44 to $34.88, with a current dividend yield of 3.88% [1]. - The company paid $1.20 per share in dividends over the last 12 months [1]. - To generate an income of $100 per month from dividends, an investment of approximately $30,928 is needed, based on the current dividend yield [4][5]. Operational Highlights - The CEO noted favorable operating trends, with resilient tenant credit performance and strong origination activity, leading to a record GAAP Cap Rate of 10.0% on investments for the quarter [3].