Critical Survey: Empiric Student Property (OTCMKTS:EPCFF) vs. Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI)

Gaming and Leisure Properties (NASDAQ:GLPI) and Empiric Student Property (OTCMKTS:EPCFF) are both finance companies, but which is the better investment? We will compare the two businesses based on the strength of their dividends, risk, earnings, profitability, institutional ownership, valuation and analyst recommendations.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Gaming and Leisure Properties and Empiric Student Property”s gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

	Gross Revenue	Price/Sales Ratio	Net Income	Earnings Per Share	Price/Earnings Ratio
Gaming and Leisure Properties	$1.49 billion	9.27	$734.28 million	$2.71	18.72
Empiric Student Property	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A

Gaming and Leisure Properties has higher revenue and earnings than Empiric Student Property.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current recommendations and price targets for Gaming and Leisure Properties and Empiric Student Property, as provided by MarketBeat.

	Sell Ratings	Hold Ratings	Buy Ratings	Strong Buy Ratings	Rating Score
Gaming and Leisure Properties	0	6	8	0	2.57
Empiric Student Property	0	0	0	0	N/A

Gaming and Leisure Properties currently has a consensus price target of $52.18, indicating a potential upside of 2.86%. Given Gaming and Leisure Properties’ higher probable upside, equities analysts plainly believe Gaming and Leisure Properties is more favorable than Empiric Student Property.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

91.1% of Gaming and Leisure Properties shares are held by institutional investors. 4.4% of Gaming and Leisure Properties shares are held by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Profitability

This table compares Gaming and Leisure Properties and Empiric Student Property’s net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

	Net Margins	Return on Equity	Return on Assets
Gaming and Leisure Properties	52.79%	17.60%	6.73%
Empiric Student Property	N/A	N/A	N/A

Summary

Gaming and Leisure Properties beats Empiric Student Property on 8 of the 8 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Gaming and Leisure Properties

GLPI is engaged in the business of acquiring, financing, and owning real estate property to be leased to gaming operators in triple-net lease arrangements, pursuant to which the tenant is responsible for all facility maintenance, insurance required in connection with the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties, taxes levied on or with respect to the leased properties and all utilities and other services necessary or appropriate for the leased properties and the business conducted on the leased properties.

About Empiric Student Property

Empiric Student Property plc is a leading provider and operator of modern, predominantly direct-let, premium student accommodation serving key UK universities. Investing in both operating and development assets, Empiric is a fully integrated operational student property business focused on premium studio-led accommodation managed through its Hello Student operating platform, that is attractive to affluent growing student segments. The Company, an internally managed real estate investment trust ("REIT") incorporated in England and Wales, listed on the premium listing segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority, was admitted to trading on the main market for listed securities of the London Stock Exchange in June 2014. The Company is classified as a commercial company listed under chapter 6 of the UK Listing rules and as such is not an alternative investment fund ("AIF") for the purposes of the Alternative Investment Fund Managers Directive ("AIFMD") and is not required to provide investors with a Key information Document ("KID") in accordance with the Packaged Retail and Insurance-based Investment Products ("PRIIPs") regulations.