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Essential Properties Realty (EPRT) AI Stock Analysis

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EPRT

Essential Properties Realty

(NYSE:EPRT)

Select Model
Rating:67Neutral
Price Target:$28.00â–¼(-0.43% Downside)
Action:reiterated
Date:10/23/26

The score is driven primarily by solid financial performance (strong profitability and growth, with moderate leverage) but held back by negative TTM free cash flow. Technicals are mixed-to-weak versus longer-term moving averages and a negative MACD, limiting upside near term. Valuation is supported by a ~5% yield but tempered by a ~20 P/E. Earnings call commentary was broadly constructive with raised guidance and strong portfolio metrics, though higher capital costs and guidance inconsistency add uncertainty.

Positive Factors
Highly Occupied, Long-Duration PortfolioThe combination of near-full occupancy, long lease duration, and strong tenant rent coverage supports predictable rental income over multiple years. These portfolio characteristics reduce near-term rollover exposure and provide resilience, while broad tenant diversification limits dependence on individual operators.
Negative Factors
Negative Trailing-Twelve-Month Free Cash FlowThe shift to negative trailing free cash flow indicates that recent investment and other cash outflows have exceeded internally generated funds after those uses. If sustained, this can reduce funding flexibility and increase reliance on dispositions, debt, or equity to support portfolio expansion.

Essential Properties Realty Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Annualized Base Rent By SegmentShows the recurring rental income expected annually from each segment, providing insight into revenue stability and the strength of tenant relationships.

$0.00$100.00M$200.00M$300.00M$400.00M$500.00M$600.00MMar 21Jun 21Sep 21Dec 21Mar 22Jun 22Sep 22Dec 22Mar 23Jun 23Sep 23Dec 23Mar 24Jun 24Sep 24Dec 24Mar 25Jun 25Sep 25Dec 25Mar 26Jun 26
Chart Insights

EPRT’s base rent is increasingly driven by Service and Industrial segments—both accelerate sharply from 2024 into 2026—while Experience stages a pronounced lift starting 2025 Q1 and Retail remains stagnant. That pattern signals a deliberate portfolio tilt toward higher-growth, service/industrial and experiential assets (likely via acquisitions/lease rollups), which can boost organic cashflow and resilience versus traditional retail; investors should favor the growth trajectory but monitor acquisition funding, integration risk and potential margin pressure from rapid expansion.

Data provided by:The Fly

Essential Properties Realty (EPRT) vs. SPDR S&P 500 ETF (SPY)

-15%-10%-5%0%5%10%15%20%EPRT-3.85%SPY+15.52%Dec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
Market Cap
$6.08B
Dividend Yield
4.48%
Average Volume (3M)
2.53M
Price to Earnings (P/E)
22.7
Beta (1Y)
0.24
Revenue Growth
20.67%
EPS Growth
-1.36%
Country
US
Employees
56
Sector
Real Estate
Sector Strength
65
Industry
REIT - Diversified

Essential Properties Realty Business Overview & Revenue Model

Company Description

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) is a real estate enterprise focused on the acquisition, ownership, and management of freestanding, single-tenant commercial properties throughout the United States. The company leases these assets under...

How the Company Makes Money

EPRT primarily makes money by owning real estate and leasing it to tenants under net lease agreements. Its core revenue stream is rental income collected from tenants, which is generally structured as long-term contractual rent. Because the leases ar...

Essential Properties Realty Earnings Call Summary

Earnings Call Date:Oct 20, 2026(Q3-2026)|% Change Since:12.98%|Next Earnings Date:Feb 16, 2027
Earnings Call SentimentPositive

The call was predominantly positive, supported by strong earnings growth, high occupancy, healthy rent coverage, improving tenant credit metrics, significant investment activity, accretive dispositions, ample liquidity, and raised 2026 guidance. The main challenges were volatile capital markets, a higher cost of capital, slower planned deployment, lower pipeline closing probabilities, refinancing decisions, and one property impairment. The conflicting 2026 AFFO guidance figures in the transcript also introduce some uncertainty.

Positive Updates

Strong Third-Quarter Earnings
The company reported GAAP net income of $60.7 million and AFFO of $111.9 million for the quarter. AFFO per share was $0.51, up 6% year over year, while nominal AFFO increased 16% year over year to $112 million.

Negative Updates

Capital Markets Volatility and Higher Cost of Capital
Management described capital markets as choppy and said the company's incremental cost of capital was in the mid- to high 6s. Based on that cost, new transactions were generating spreads of approximately 100 to 150 basis points, compared with the company's historical range of 100 to 300 basis points.

Company Guidance

For 2026, the company raised AFFO per share guidance to $2.02 to $2.05, implying growth of almost 8 percent at the midpoint, and investment volume guidance to $1.3 billion to $1.5 billion; Robert W. Salisbury later stated AFFO per share guidance of 2 dollars and 20 cents to 2 dollars and 50 cents, reflecting a growth rate of approximately 8 percent at the midpoint. Initial 2027 guidance calls for AFFO per share of 2 dollars and 10 cents to 2 dollars and 18 cents, investment volume of $1 billion to $1.5 billion, and cash G&A expense of $32 million to $37 million, with investment volume expected to be back end loaded and a slow pace of deployment over the next 2 to 3 quarters; the plan assumes approximately 2 hundred million dollars of dispositions next year, annual free cash flow after dividends approaching 2 hundred million dollars, no common equity in the near term, and no need to source external capital. The company expects dispositions to potentially increase from 25 million dollars a quarter to 50 million dollars a quarter, with a mid- to high- 6% cap rate range, while refinancing alternatives included unsecured bonds pricing in the high 6s, a convert pricing south of a 5, and bank debt in the 5.6% to 5.7% range.

Essential Properties Realty Financial Statement Overview

Summary

Strong profitability and multi-year revenue expansion support the score (revenue grew from $230.2M in 2021 to $561.9M in 2025 and $687.8M TTM; TTM net margin ~38%). Balance sheet is solid with moderate leverage for a REIT (debt-to-equity ~0.65 TTM) and rising equity, but rising absolute debt and the key weakness—TTM free cash flow turning negative (-$142.4M)—reduce near-term flexibility despite healthy operating cash flow.

Income Statement

84Very Positive

Balance Sheet

76Positive

Cash Flow

58Neutral
Financial statement breakdown
BreakdownTTMDec 2025Dec 2024Dec 2023Dec 2022Dec 2021
Income Statement
Total Revenue687.78M561.89M449.61M359.60M286.51M230.23M
Gross Profit466.48M472.26M444.61M354.93M283.05M224.47M
EBITDA571.07M518.96M404.97M352.05M253.28M200.35M
Net Income262.50M253.01M203.00M190.71M134.13M95.72M
Balance Sheet
Total Assets7.69B6.86B5.80B4.77B4.00B3.30B
Cash, Cash Equivalents and Short-Term Investments25.22M60.18M40.71M39.81M62.34M59.76M
Total Debt2.97B2.52B2.13B1.69B1.44B1.19B
Total Liabilities3.11B2.66B2.23B1.78B1.50B1.25B
Stockholders Equity4.54B4.20B3.56B2.98B2.49B2.04B
Cash Flow
Free Cash Flow-142.44M381.08M308.48M254.57M211.02M167.39M
Operating Cash Flow433.15M381.08M308.48M254.57M211.02M167.39M
Investing Cash Flow-1.15B-1.15B-1.12B-857.13M-706.08M-829.68M
Financing Cash Flow724.39M798.35M810.70M580.01M506.80M689.06M

Essential Properties Realty Technical Analysis

Technical Analysis SentimentNeutral
Last Price28.12

Price Trends

50DMA27.05Positive
100DMA28.85Negative
200DMA29.82Negative

Market Momentum

MACD0.21Negative
RSI65.05Neutral
STOCH96.44Negative

Evaluating momentum and price trends is crucial in stock analysis to make informed investment decisions. For EPRT, the sentiment is Neutral. The current price of 28.12 is above the 20-day moving average (MA) of 26.28, above the 50-day MA of 27.05, and below the 200-day MA of 29.82, indicating a neutral trend. The MACD of 0.21 indicates Negative momentum. The RSI at 65.05 is Neutral, neither overbought nor oversold. The STOCH value of 96.44 is Negative, not indicating any strong overbought or oversold conditions. Overall, these indicators collectively point to a Neutral sentiment for EPRT.

Essential Properties Realty Risk Analysis

Essential Properties Realty disclosed 60 risk factors in its most recent earnings report. Essential Properties Realty reported the most risks in the "Finance & Corporate" category.

Higher RiskSector Avg.Lower RiskFinance & CorporateTech & InnovationLegal & RegulatoryProductionAbility to SellMacro & Political
Finance & Corporate - Financial and accounting risks. Risks related to the execution of corporate activity and strategy

Latest Risks Added

1 New Risk
1.Tax protection agreements entered into in connection with property acquisitions may limit our operating flexibility and could result in significant payments to protected unitholders.Q2, 2026

Essential Properties Realty Peers Comparison

Overall Rating

UnderperformOutperform
Sector (65)

Financial Indicators

EPRT against its peers
NameOverall RatingMarket CapP/E RatioROEDividend YieldRevenue GrowthEPS Growth
WPCWPC69Neutral$14.87B22.547.69%5.72%8.96%75.31%
EPRTEPRT67Neutral$6.09B22.685.99%4.48%20.67%-1.36%
Sector *65Neutral$2.17B12.193.79%4.94%3.15%1.96%
BNLBNL62Neutral$3.45B23.725.07%6.48%7.70%61.99%
GOODGOOD61Neutral$562.41M27.236.29%11.02%10.65%-33.01%
OLPOLP59Neutral$478.62M21.067.44%8.20%10.68%-25.87%
GNLGNL51Neutral$1.60B-27.27-0.84%10.72%-29.60%77.14%

* Real Estate Sector Average

Performance Comparison

-10%0%10%20%30%EPRTGOODOLPWPCGNLBNLDec '25Jan '26Feb '26Mar '26Apr '26May '26Jun '26Jul '26Aug '26Sep '26Oct '26Nov '26
EPRT and its peers over the selected period
Show on chartTickerCompany NamePriceChange% Change
EPRTEssential Properties Realty Trust28.12-1.14-3.88%
GOODGladstone Commercial10.890.999.98%
OLPOne Liberty Properties21.942.9315.39%
WPCW. P. Carey Inc.65.361.622.54%
GNLGlobal Net Lease7.09-0.32-4.31%
BNLBroadstone Net Lease, Inc.18.031.015.93%

Essential Properties Realty Corporate Events

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresPrivate Placements and Financing

Essential Properties Realty Raises 2026 AFFO Guidance

Positive
Oct 21, 2026

For the third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2026, Essential Properties reported net income per share of $0.27, down 18% year-on-year, but delivered higher per-share FFO, Core FFO and AFFO, with AFFO up 6% to $0.51. The company closed $342.2 million of inve...

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and FinancingRegulatory Filings and Compliance

Essential Properties Realty Expands Revolving Credit Facility Capacity

Positive
Sep 16, 2026

On September 14, 2026, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc., through its operating partnership, executed an eighth amendment to its Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, primarily affecting its revolving credit facility with Wells Fargo Bank and...

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial DisclosuresRegulatory Filings and Compliance

Essential Properties Realty Releases 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report

Positive
Sep 16, 2026

On September 16, 2026, Essential Properties Realty Trust published its 2025 Corporate Responsibility Report, detailing environmental, social, and governance initiatives across its operations for the year ended December 31, 2025. The report highlights...

Business Operations and StrategyFinancial Disclosures

Essential Properties Realty Highlights Strong Liquidity and Leasing

Positive
Sep 14, 2026

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is a net-lease REIT that provides sale-leaseback and other capital solutions to middle-market tenants in essential, largely service and experiential industries, emphasizing e-commerce resilience and granular, f...

Business Operations and StrategyExecutive/Board Changes

Essential Properties Realty refreshes leadership and investment team

Positive
Sep 9, 2026

On September 4, 2026, Essential Properties Realty Trust’s board promoted Chief Operating Officer R. Max Jenkins to President and COO, with CEO Pete Mavoides entering a new employment agreement running initially through March 31, 2031. The board...

Business Operations and StrategyDividends

Essential Properties Realty Trust Declares Third-Quarter Dividend

Positive
Sep 8, 2026

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is an internally managed real estate investment trust that acquires, owns and manages primarily single-tenant properties net leased on a long-term basis to service-oriented and experience-based businesses. As o...

Business Operations and StrategyPrivate Placements and Financing

Essential Properties Realty Launches New $750 Million ATM Program

Positive
Jul 24, 2026

On July 24, 2026, Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. and its operating partnership launched a new at-the-market equity offering program authorizing up to $750 million of common stock sales through a syndicate of major investment banks, while sim...

Glossary
BuyA stock rated as a "Buy" is expected to perform better than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock is likely to deliver higher returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
HoldA stock rated as a "Hold" is expected to perform in line with the overall market or a specific benchmark. This rating indicates that the stock is neither particularly compelling nor unfavorable for investment. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.
SellA stock rated as a "Sell" is expected to perform worse than the overall market or a specific benchmark over the near-to-medium term. This rating suggests the stock may deliver lower returns compared to other stocks in the same sector or market index. Note: This is not investment advice; please consult a financial advisor before making investment decisions.

Disclaimer

This AI Analyst Stock Report is automatically generated by our AI systems using advanced algorithms and publicly available financial, technical, and market data. While the information provided aims to be accurate and insightful, it is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Any content created by an AI (Artificial Intelligence) system may contain inaccuracies and/or contain errors. Investing in stocks carries inherent risks, and past performance is not indicative of future results. This report does not account for your personal financial circumstances, objectives, or risk tolerance. Always conduct your own research or consult with a qualified financial advisor before making investment decisions. The analysis and recommendations provided are based on historical and current data and may not fully reflect future market conditions or unexpected developments. Neither the creators of this report nor its affiliated entities guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of the information presented. Use this report at your own discretion and risk.

Date of analysis: Oct 23, 2026