GAMMA Investing LLC Grows Holdings in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL)

GAMMA Investing LLC boosted its holdings in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL - Free Report) by 7,273.3% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 51,171 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 50,477 shares during the quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC owned 0.31% of Unitil worth $2,952,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the business. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC raised its position in Unitil by 18.0% in the 4th quarter. UBS AM a distinct business unit of UBS ASSET MANAGEMENT AMERICAS LLC now owns 56,721 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,074,000 after buying an additional 8,640 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its position in Unitil by 21.8% in the 4th quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 13,547 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $734,000 after buying an additional 2,426 shares during the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its position in Unitil by 1,011.0% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 52,661 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,854,000 after buying an additional 47,921 shares during the last quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. raised its position in Unitil by 3.6% in the 4th quarter. MIRAE ASSET GLOBAL ETFS HOLDINGS Ltd. now owns 9,087 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $492,000 after buying an additional 317 shares during the last quarter. Finally, D. E. Shaw & Co. Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unitil during the 4th quarter valued at about $485,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.76% of the company's stock.

Unitil Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE UTL traded down $0.13 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $52.09. 81,001 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 64,108. Unitil Co. has a 1 year low of $48.94 and a 1 year high of $63.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $847.02 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.78 and a beta of 0.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $55.85 and a 200 day moving average of $55.55.

Unitil (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.78 by ($0.04). Unitil had a net margin of 9.52% and a return on equity of 9.36%. The business had revenue of $207.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $193.03 million. On average, analysts forecast that Unitil Co. will post 3.08 earnings per share for the current year.

Unitil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 30th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 15th were issued a $0.45 dividend. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. Unitil's dividend payout ratio is 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.