Essential Properties Realty Trust

EPRT

Market cap $6.61B

I focus on HALO investing: Heavy Assets, Low Obsolescence - owning irreplaceable physical assets with durable moats against technological disruption. Top recommendations include American Tower, Brookfield Infrastructure, Prologis, Rexford Industrial, Lineage, Americold, VICI Properties, and Lamar Advertising. AMT, COLD, and VICI currently offer attractive entry points based on discounted multiples, robust dividend yields, and resilient, monopoly-like asset bases.

Most investors think you have to choose between high yield and dividend growth. However, this is not always the case. I detail the five non-negotiable criteria for identifying high-yielding stocks that are also elite dividend growers.

Not Every REIT Joined The Rally: Part 2 focuses on laggards and in-line performers - sectors where recovery timelines slipped, results underwhelmed, or elevated rates exposed lingering balance sheet issues. Weakness centered on Farmland, Commercial Mortgage, Lab Space, and Self-Storage REITs, where delayed troughs, credit provisions, book-value pressure, weak rents, and refinancing constraints persisted. Mortgage Stress Hasn't Fully Cleared: Commercial mortgage REITs still faced multifamily bridge-loan and office credit stress, while residential mortgage REITs saw book values pressured by rate volatility and uneven dividend-coverage.

REIT earnings results were considerably better than consensus expectations, with 58 REITs - or 59% - raising full-year FFO guidance, well above the typical Q1 raise rate of 40-45%. REITs have extended their year-to-date outperformance despite the recent jump in interest rates, as better earnings results and improving property-level trends helped offset renewed macro pressure. Upside standouts included Hotel, Senior Housing, Data Center, Billboard, Cold Storage, Net Lease, and Retail REITs. Residential REITs saw improving rent growth trends as supply growth finally eases.

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (EPRT) Q1 2026 Earnings Call Transcript

EPRT has delivered sector-leading growth, with Q1 revenue up 23% and AFFO per share up 11%. EPRT's aggressive external growth, funded by equity issuance, has led to a low leverage ratio but limits near-term share price upside. Trading at 15.8x AFFO, EPRT's premium valuation reflects past outperformance, but future upside appears constrained as growth tailwinds fade.

Essential Properties (EPRT) came out with quarterly funds from operations (FFO) of $0.5 per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.49 per share. This compares to FFO of $0.45 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 months ended March 31, 2026. First Quarter 2026 Financial and Operating Highlights: Operating Results (compared to First Quarter 2025):     • Investments (126 properties) $ Invested $388.6 million   Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate 7.7% • Dispositions (6 properties) Net Proceeds $10.2 million   Weighted Avg Cash Cap Rate 6.9% •.

Realty Income and VICI Properties are highlighted as top net lease REITs with wide moats and attractive valuations. Net lease REITs benefit from long-term, predictable cash flows and cost-of-capital advantages, especially those with access to European debt markets. O trades at 15.1x P/AFFO (below its historical 17.7x), offers a 5.0% yield, and is forecasted for a 15% 12-month total return.

VICI Properties and Essential Properties Realty Trust offer attractive yields and are positioned for reliable income and potential double-digit total returns. VICI trades at a 6.40% forward yield, maintains a solid balance sheet, and is diversifying beyond Las Vegas, despite tenant concentration risks with Caesars Entertainment. EPRT, with a 3.81% forward yield and 8.6% AFFO growth, boasts strong occupancy, long lease terms, and low leverage, though its focus on non-rated tenants poses recession risk.