Squarepoint Ops LLC Invests $2.48 Million in Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK)

Squarepoint Ops LLC bought a new position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 20,428 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $2,479,000. Squarepoint Ops LLC owned 0.09% of Chesapeake Utilities as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 2.4% in the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,934,574 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $234,761,000 after buying an additional 44,692 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities during the fourth quarter worth $5,110,000. FourThought Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities in the fourth quarter valued at $4,632,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its position in Chesapeake Utilities by 10.3% during the fourth quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 317,752 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $38,559,000 after buying an additional 29,759 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC boosted its stake in Chesapeake Utilities by 342.4% in the 3rd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 37,048 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,600,000 after buying an additional 28,673 shares during the last quarter. 83.11% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Chesapeake Utilities Trading Up 0.4%

NYSE CPK traded up $0.50 on Friday, hitting $122.06. 96,707 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 105,752. The company has a market capitalization of $2.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.76 and a beta of 0.71. Chesapeake Utilities Co. has a 52-week low of $102.64 and a 52-week high of $136.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a current ratio of 0.38 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The company's 50-day moving average price is $128.05 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $125.93.

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, May 7th. The utilities provider reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.28 by ($0.06). Chesapeake Utilities had a return on equity of 9.08% and a net margin of 14.16%. The company had revenue of $298.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $248.45 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $2.10 EPS. The business's revenue was up 21.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict that Chesapeake Utilities Co. will post 5.39 EPS for the current year.

Chesapeake Utilities Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 7th. Investors of record on Monday, June 16th will be paid a $0.685 dividend. This is a positive change from Chesapeake Utilities's previous quarterly dividend of $0.64. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, June 16th. This represents a $2.74 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.24%. Chesapeake Utilities's payout ratio is currently 50.65%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have recently commented on CPK. Barclays cut their price objective on Chesapeake Utilities from $125.00 to $124.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH raised Chesapeake Utilities to a "strong-buy" rating in a report on Friday, May 9th. Finally, Wall Street Zen lowered Chesapeake Utilities from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 21st.

Chesapeake Utilities Profile

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida.