SJW Group (NYSE:SJW) Shares Sold by Renaissance Technologies LLC

Renaissance Technologies LLC decreased its stake in shares of SJW Group (NYSE:SJW - Free Report) by 38.2% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 70,900 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 43,800 shares during the quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned about 0.22% of SJW Group worth $3,490,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Arizona State Retirement System lifted its position in SJW Group by 2.2% during the fourth quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,015 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $444,000 after buying an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its position in SJW Group by 1.2% during the fourth quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 17,198 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $846,000 after buying an additional 210 shares in the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in SJW Group by 5.6% during the fourth quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 4,430 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $218,000 after buying an additional 233 shares in the last quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in SJW Group by 64.4% during the fourth quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 766 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its position in SJW Group by 1.9% during the fourth quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 18,930 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $932,000 after buying an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.29% of the company's stock.

SJW Group Trading Down 0.5 %

SJW stock traded down $0.26 during midday trading on Monday, hitting $53.51. 248,929 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 229,036. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $53.38 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $52.85. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.83 billion, a PE ratio of 19.39, a P/E/G ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 0.56. SJW Group has a 1-year low of $44.91 and a 1-year high of $62.18.

SJW Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 10th were paid a $0.42 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. This is a boost from SJW Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.14%. SJW Group's payout ratio is presently 58.95%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently commented on SJW shares. StockNews.com upgraded SJW Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research report on Friday, February 28th. Bank of America raised SJW Group from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and cut their target price for the stock from $59.00 to $55.00 in a research note on Monday, February 3rd. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on SJW Group from $53.00 to $57.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 28th.

SJW Group Profile

SJW Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in the United States. It operates in Water Utility Services and Real Estate Services segments. The company engages in the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services; and supplies groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.