EPR Properties (EPR) will reinstate its monthly dividend. The REIT suspended its monthly dividend in 2020 because of COVID-19, ending 10 consecutive years of increases. 

EPR Properties today announced that it is resuming payment of a monthly cash dividend of $0.25 per common share to its common shareholders, following its decision to terminate the covenant relief period early under certain of its credit facilities. In addition, the Company is providing key business updates on property openings and cash collection levels for the second quarter ended June 30, 2021.

The next dividend is payable on August 16, 2021 to shareholders of record on July 30, 2021. The dividend yield is 5.6% at a stock price of $49.65 for EPR.

“We are pleased that we continue to show meaningful progress in our property openings and cash collections, which allowed us to be in compliance with our pre-waiver debt covenants for the second quarter,” stated Greg Silvers, President and CEO of EPR Properties. “This performance and positive outlook gave us the confidence to terminate the covenant relief period early under certain of our credit facilities. Exiting this relief period marks an important step in EPR’s ongoing recovery, and allows us to resume certain investment activity and payment of dividends. As a result, we are resuming the payment of our monthly cash dividend to common shareholders, and are doing so at a prudent level which should allow us to grow the dividends over time alongside earnings growth.”

EPR Properties is a specialty real estate investment trust (REIT) that invests in entertainment, education and recreation properties. EPR has investments in megaplex theatres, entertainment retail centers, family entertainment centers, public charter schools, early education centers, K-12 private schools, ski areas, waterparks, golf entertainment complexes and other recreational real estate. EPR Properties had paid a dividend every year since 1997 before the 2020 dividend suspension.