20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime

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14. Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26

5-Year Rev Growth: 26.48%

Dividend Yield: 4.03%

Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) is one of the 20 Best Stocks to Buy and Hold for a Lifetime, selected for its consistent revenue and dividend growth.

Citing the company’s solid portfolio and financial standing, Stifel maintained its Buy rating on Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) on September 17, 2025, but marginally lowered its price target to $35.00. With sales of $137 million and EPS of $0.32, the real estate company, which buys and maintains single-tenant properties leased to middle-market companies in several industries, achieved second-quarter 2025 results that were higher than anticipated.

A $400 million senior notes issue due in 2035 was also closed by Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) at a 5.4% interest rate, demonstrating strong financing capabilities and a sound balance sheet with $1.7 billion in liquidity. The company’s anticipated 7.5% CAGR from 2024–2027, together with a third-quarter dividend of $0.30 per share, highlights durability and consistent income potential for investors, even if it has underperformed the Triple-Net sector year-to-date.

The mission of Essential Properties Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:EPRT) is to buy, hold, and manage single-tenant buildings in the US and lease them to middle-class companies for extended periods of time. It is one of the best stocks to buy.

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