Foundry Partners LLC Buys 22,220 Shares of Unitil Corporation (NYSE:UTL)

Foundry Partners LLC grew its position in Unitil Corporation (NYSE:UTL - Free Report) by 23.7% during the 1st quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 115,875 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 22,220 shares during the period. Foundry Partners LLC owned about 0.71% of Unitil worth $6,685,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Sterling Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Unitil by 798.2% in the fourth quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 512 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 455 shares during the period. GAMMA Investing LLC raised its holdings in Unitil by 27.8% in the first quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 887 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 193 shares during the period. Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unitil during the fourth quarter worth $166,000. Lido Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unitil during the fourth quarter worth $221,000. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Unitil during the fourth quarter worth $244,000. 76.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unitil Stock Up 0.5%

Shares of NYSE:UTL traded up $0.28 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $52.44. 76,780 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 63,488. Unitil Corporation has a fifty-two week low of $50.81 and a fifty-two week high of $63.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.80 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $54.85. The firm has a market cap of $852.67 million, a PE ratio of 17.90 and a beta of 0.63.

Unitil (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.74 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $207.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $193.03 million. Unitil had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 9.49%. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Unitil Corporation will post 3.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Unitil Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.43%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, May 15th. Unitil's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 61.43%.

About Unitil

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations. The company distributes electricity in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and distributes natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area, as well as electricity and natural gas in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts.