Global Water Resources (NASDAQ:GWRS) Shares Down 1.4% - Time to Sell?

Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:GWRS - Get Free Report)'s share price fell 1.4% on Thursday . The company traded as low as $10.17 and last traded at $10.18. 38,756 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 8% from the average session volume of 35,757 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.32.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Global Water Resources from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Thursday, May 22nd.

Global Water Resources Stock Performance

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $277.52 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.96, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.14 and a beta of 1.03. The stock's fifty day moving average is $10.33 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.76.

Global Water Resources (NASDAQ:GWRS - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, May 14th. The utilities provider reported $0.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.02. The firm had revenue of $12.46 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.00 million. Global Water Resources had a net margin of 10.63% and a return on equity of 11.27%. Analysts forecast that Global Water Resources, Inc. will post 0.28 earnings per share for the current year.

Global Water Resources Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, July 31st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, July 17th will be paid a $0.0253 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, July 17th. This represents a $0.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.01%. Global Water Resources's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 130.43%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Global Water Resources

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of GWRS. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its position in shares of Global Water Resources by 11.3% during the 1st quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 1,525,000 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $15,723,000 after acquiring an additional 155,000 shares during the period. Heartland Advisors Inc. bought a new stake in Global Water Resources in the 1st quarter worth about $4,640,000. North Star Investment Management Corp. lifted its holdings in Global Water Resources by 2.6% during the second quarter. North Star Investment Management Corp. now owns 351,448 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $3,581,000 after purchasing an additional 8,855 shares during the last quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its holdings in Global Water Resources by 2.9% during the 4th quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 256,552 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,950,000 after buying an additional 7,186 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its stake in Global Water Resources by 0.5% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 211,216 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,429,000 after acquiring an additional 1,130 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 27.91% of the company's stock.

Global Water Resources Company Profile

Global Water Resources, Inc, a water resource management company, owns, operates, and manages regulated water, wastewater, and recycled water systems primarily in metropolitan Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. It serves approximately 82,000 people in approximately 32,000 homes. The company was founded in 2003 and is based in Phoenix, Arizona.