American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) Shares Sold by Gulf International Bank UK Ltd

Key Points

• Gulf International Bank UK Ltd reduced its stake in American Water Works by 30.9%, now holding 10,518 shares worth approximately $1.55 million.
• American Water Works plans to pay a quarterly dividend of $0.8275 per share, yielding 2.3%, with the payment date set for September 3rd.
• The company reported an EPS of $1.48 for the last quarter, which was below analysts' expectations of $1.53, despite revenue figures exceeding forecasts.

Gulf International Bank UK Ltd cut its stake in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK - Free Report) by 30.9% in the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 10,518 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 4,712 shares during the quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd's holdings in American Water Works were worth $1,551,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. National Pension Service lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 5.1% in the first quarter. National Pension Service now owns 242,134 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $35,720,000 after acquiring an additional 11,745 shares during the period. MSH Capital Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 2.6% in the first quarter. MSH Capital Advisors LLC now owns 18,273 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,696,000 after acquiring an additional 470 shares during the period. Prudential PLC lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 360.5% in the first quarter. Prudential PLC now owns 80,362 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $11,855,000 after acquiring an additional 62,912 shares during the period. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 6.6% in the first quarter. Resona Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 62,089 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $9,147,000 after acquiring an additional 3,867 shares during the period. Finally, HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 2.2% in the first quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 534,306 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $78,821,000 after acquiring an additional 11,430 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.58% of the company's stock.

American Water Works Trading Down 0.2%

American Water Works stock opened at $143.40 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $27.98 billion, a PE ratio of 25.84, a P/E/G ratio of 3.40 and a beta of 0.65. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $141.64 and a 200 day moving average price of $140.29. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 52 week low of $118.74 and a 52 week high of $155.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15.

American Water Works (NYSE:AWK - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The utilities provider reported $1.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $1.22 billion. American Water Works had a return on equity of 10.34% and a net margin of 21.91%. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.42 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that American Water Works Company, Inc. will post 5.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 12th will be given a dividend of $0.8275 per share. This represents a $3.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 12th. American Water Works's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 59.64%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts have commented on AWK shares. UBS Group reduced their target price on American Water Works from $156.00 to $151.00 and set a "neutral" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday. Wall Street Zen downgraded American Water Works from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 14th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on American Water Works from $147.00 to $141.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, August 1st. Mizuho lifted their price target on American Water Works from $148.00 to $149.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Barclays cut their price target on American Water Works from $138.00 to $128.00 and set an "underweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, American Water Works currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $143.30.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CAO Melissa K. Wikle sold 2,825 shares of American Water Works stock in a transaction dated Friday, May 30th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.28, for a total transaction of $404,766.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer owned 7,572 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,084,916.16. This trade represents a 27.17% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 0.11% of the company's stock.

American Water Works Profile

American Water Works Company, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides water and wastewater services in the United States. It offers water and wastewater services to approximately 1,700 communities in 14 states serving approximately 3.5 million active customers. The company serves residential customers; commercial customers, including food and beverage providers, commercial property developers and proprietors, and energy suppliers; fire service and private fire customers; industrial customers, such as large-scale manufacturers, mining, and production operations; public authorities comprising government buildings and other public sector facilities, such as schools and universities; and other utilities and community water and wastewater systems.

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