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Essential Properties Realty ( (EPRT) ) has shared an update.
On April 22, 2026, Essential Properties Realty Trust reported first-quarter 2026 results marked by robust acquisition and capital-raising activity, alongside double-digit growth in key cash flow metrics. The REIT invested $388.6 million across 126 properties at a 7.7% weighted average cash cap rate, realized $10.2 million of disposition proceeds from six assets, and lifted adjusted funds from operations per share by 11% to $0.50, even as net income per share slipped 3% to $0.28.
The company also strengthened its balance sheet and growth outlook, raising over $419 million in gross equity during the quarter and ending with pro forma net debt at 3.5 times annualized adjusted EBITDAre. Citing strong early-year momentum despite a dynamic macro backdrop, management increased 2026 AFFO guidance to $2.00–$2.05 per share and investment guidance to $1.1–$1.5 billion, signaling an accelerated expansion strategy for its net-lease portfolio and positive implications for shareholders seeking earnings growth and scaled deployment.
The most recent analyst rating on (EPRT) stock is a Buy with a $40.00 price target. To see the full list of analyst forecasts on Essential Properties Realty stock, see the EPRT Stock Forecast page.
Spark’s Take on EPRT Stock
According to Spark, TipRanks’ AI Analyst, EPRT is a Outperform.
The score is driven primarily by strong financial performance and a positive earnings outlook (raised AFFO guidance, high occupancy, strong coverage and liquidity). Offsetting this are weaker near-term technical signals and only moderate valuation support, plus some balance-sheet data consistency risk that warrants caution.
To see Spark’s full report on EPRT stock, click here.
More about Essential Properties Realty
Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. is a Princeton, N.J.-based net-lease real estate investment trust focused on owning and managing single-tenant, service-oriented and experience-based properties across the U.S. As of March 31, 2026, the company’s portfolio comprised 2,417 properties totaling 27.3 million square feet, with a weighted average lease term of 14.6 years and occupancy of 99.7%. Its tenant base is diversified, with the top 10 tenants accounting for 15.8% of cash annual base rent and a rent coverage ratio of 3.5x, and a substantial 65.3% of cash rent coming from properties under master leases.
Average Trading Volume: 2,131,921
Technical Sentiment Signal: Strong Buy
Current Market Cap: $7.02B
For a thorough assessment of EPRT stock, go to TipRanks’ Stock Analysis page.