Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH Purchases New Position in American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR)

Universal Beteiligungs und Servicegesellschaft mbH purchased a new stake in American States Water Company (NYSE:AWR - Free Report) during the first quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 4,387 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $345,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Captrust Financial Advisors increased its holdings in American States Water by 5.0% during the 4th quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 5,670 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $441,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Alpha Cubed Investments LLC acquired a new stake in American States Water during the 1st quarter valued at $472,000. Advisor Resource Council purchased a new position in American States Water during the first quarter worth $402,000. Buck Wealth Strategies LLC raised its holdings in shares of American States Water by 11.4% in the first quarter. Buck Wealth Strategies LLC now owns 56,702 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,461,000 after acquiring an additional 5,801 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Perpetual Ltd grew its holdings in shares of American States Water by 41.8% during the first quarter. Perpetual Ltd now owns 152,187 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $11,974,000 after buying an additional 44,834 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.24% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at American States Water

In other American States Water news, Director Thomas A. Eichelberger purchased 897 shares of American States Water stock in a transaction on Friday, June 6th. The stock was bought at an average price of $76.81 per share, for a total transaction of $68,898.57. Following the transaction, the director owned 8,467 shares of the company's stock, valued at $650,350.27. The trade was a 11.85% increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 0.83% of the company's stock.

American States Water Stock Up 2.2%

Shares of NYSE AWR traded up $1.64 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $76.01. 113,941 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 224,877. The stock has a market capitalization of $2.93 billion, a PE ratio of 23.37, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.01 and a beta of 0.62. American States Water Company has a 52-week low of $70.29 and a 52-week high of $87.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.81. The business's fifty day moving average price is $76.50 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $76.86.

American States Water (NYSE:AWR - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.87 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.92 by ($0.05). American States Water had a return on equity of 13.45% and a net margin of 20.22%. The business had revenue of $163.07 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $170.64 million. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.85 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts forecast that American States Water Company will post 3.34 EPS for the current year.

American States Water Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, August 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.504 per share. This represents a $2.02 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.7%. This is a boost from American States Water's previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 15th. American States Water's dividend payout ratio is presently 57.23%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded American States Water from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $76.00 to $84.00 in a report on Thursday, May 8th.

About American States Water

American States Water Company, through its subsidiaries, provides water and electric services to residential, commercial, industrial, and other customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Water, Electric, and Contracted Services. The company purchases, produces, distributes, and sells water, as well as distributes electricity.