GSA Capital Partners LLP Invests $1.25 Million in Avista Corporation $AVA

Key Points

• GSA Capital Partners initiated a $1.25 million position in Avista during the second quarter, while institutional investors collectively own 85.24% of the utility company.
• Analysts maintain a largely neutral view: Avista has a consensus “Hold” rating and an average price target of $39.25. Shares opened at $38.99, near the consensus target.
• Avista exceeded quarterly EPS expectations, reporting $0.43 versus the $0.23 consensus estimate, and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.4925, representing a 5.1% annualized yield.

GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new stake in Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA - Free Report) during the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund bought 30,643 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $1,254,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in Avista by 5.3% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 65,494 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,741,000 after purchasing an additional 3,296 shares in the last quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Avista by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 69,831 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,924,000 after purchasing an additional 6,967 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association bought a new stake in shares of Avista during the 1st quarter worth approximately $201,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Avista by 26.0% in the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 283,182 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $11,857,000 after buying an additional 58,504 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Strs Ohio bought a new position in shares of Avista in the first quarter valued at $134,000. Institutional investors own 85.24% of the company's stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on AVA. Wells Fargo & Company set a $39.00 target price on shares of Avista in a report on Tuesday, April 21st. Zacks Research raised Avista from a "strong sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, May 22nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Avista from a "buy (b-)" rating to a "buy (b)" rating in a research report on Thursday, July 23rd. Barclays decreased their target price on Avista from $40.00 to $37.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, August 4th. Finally, Mizuho increased their price objective on shares of Avista from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research note on Wednesday, May 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have given a Hold rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $39.25.

Avista Stock Down 0.4%

NYSE:AVA opened at $38.99 on Tuesday. Avista Corporation has a one year low of $35.50 and a one year high of $43.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.69. The company has a market cap of $3.27 billion, a PE ratio of 14.08, a P/E/G ratio of 3.67 and a beta of 0.25. The firm's 50 day simple moving average is $40.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $40.89.

Avista (NYSE:AVA - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, August 3rd. The utilities provider reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $413.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $426.93 million. Avista had a net margin of 11.83% and a return on equity of 7.85%. The company's revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $0.17 EPS. Avista has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. On average, research analysts anticipate that Avista Corporation will post 2.58 earnings per share for the current year.

Avista Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, September 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, August 18th will be issued a $0.4925 dividend. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.1%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, August 18th. Avista's dividend payout ratio is presently 71.12%.

Avista Company Profile

Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.

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