Essential Properties Realty Trust

EPRT

Market cap $6.27B

U.S. equity markets climbed to fresh record-highs this past week, while interest rates hovered around multi-year lows, after cool inflation data cleared the path for additional Federal Reserve rate cuts. The Consumer Price Index report for September was released this past week - one week delayed - showing cooler-than-expected consumer price pressures across both the headline and core metrics. Combined with a relatively strong start to corporate earnings season and a planned meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi, market volatility metrics eased to one-month lows.

Essential Properties Realty Trust continues to outperform net lease peers, delivering double-digit AFFO per share growth and sector-leading acquisition yields. EPRT's strong Q3 results include a 99.8% occupancy rate, low credit losses, and a conservative 63% AFFO payout ratio, supporting robust organic growth. Despite operational excellence, EPRT trades at a premium valuation, with a dividend yield below the 10-year Treasury and limited upside for share price acceleration.

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Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT ) Q3 2025 Earnings Call October 23, 2025 10:00 AM EDT Company Participants Robert Salisbury - Senior VP and Head of Corporate Finance & Strategy Peter Mavoides - President, CEO & Director A. Peil - Executive VP & Chief Investment Officer Max Jenkins - Executive VP & COO Mark Patten - Executive VP, CFO, Treasurer & Secretary Conference Call Participants Haendel St. Juste - Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Research Division Michael Goldsmith - UBS Investment Bank, Research Division William John Kilichowski - Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, Research Division Bennett Rose - Citigroup Inc., Research Division Jana Galan - BofA Securities, Research Division Caitlin Burrows - Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Research Division Jay Kornreich - Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Research Division Richard Hightower - Barclays Bank PLC, Research Division Eric Borden - BMO Capital Markets Equity Research Daniel Guglielmo - Capital One Securities, Inc., Research Division James Kammert - Evercore ISI Institutional Equities, Research Division Omotayo Okusanya - Deutsche Bank AG, Research Division Greg McGinniss - Scotiabank Global Banking and Markets, Research Division Ryan Caviola - Green Street Advisors, LLC, Research Division John Massocca - B.

Although the revenue and EPS for Essential Properties (EPRT) give a sense of how its business performed in the quarter ended September 2025, it might be worth considering how some key metrics compare with Wall Street estimates and the year-ago numbers.

Essential Properties (EPRT) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.48 per share, in line with the Zacks Consensus Estimate . This compares to FFO of $0.43 per share a year ago.

PRINCETON, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: EPRT; “Essential Properties” or the “Company”) today announced operating results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2025. Third Quarter 2025 Financial and Operating Highlights: Operating Results (compared to Third Quarter 2024):     • Investments (87 properties) $ Invested $369.8 million   Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate 8.0% • Dispositions (7 properties) Net Proceeds $11.5 million   Weighted Avg Cash Cap.

As of Oct. 22, 2025, two stocks in the real estate sector could be flashing a real warning to investors who value momentum as a key criteria in their trading decisions.

Essential Properties Realty Trust and NNN REIT present attractive long-term buying opportunities due to strong fundamentals and resilient income profiles. EPRT boasts high occupancy (99.6%), low leverage, and a 4% yield, with double-digit upside potential if it returns to historical multiples by 2027. NNN offers a 36-year dividend growth streak, a 5%+ yield, and solid liquidity, despite recent occupancy dips and tenant headwinds.

Not all REITs are worth buying. Many property sectors are facing growing headwinds. I highlight 2 popular REITs to avoid.