Algert Global LLC Trims Stock Position in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL)

Algert Global LLC reduced its position in shares of Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL - Free Report) by 55.9% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,864 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 4,903 shares during the quarter. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Unitil were worth $209,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Sterling Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Unitil by 798.2% in the 4th quarter. Sterling Capital Management LLC now owns 512 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 455 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE lifted its stake in Unitil by 8,333.3% in the 4th quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,024 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $110,000 after buying an additional 2,000 shares in the last quarter. Aquatic Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Unitil in the 4th quarter valued at about $166,000. Lido Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Unitil in the 4th quarter valued at about $221,000. Finally, Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC purchased a new position in Unitil in the 4th quarter valued at about $244,000. 76.76% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, Guggenheim reaffirmed a "neutral" rating and issued a $55.00 price target on shares of Unitil in a research note on Wednesday, February 12th.

Unitil Price Performance

UTL stock traded up $0.72 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $55.10. The company's stock had a trading volume of 40,953 shares, compared to its average volume of 62,682. The stock has a market cap of $895.43 million, a PE ratio of 18.81 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.83, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. Unitil Co. has a fifty-two week low of $48.94 and a fifty-two week high of $63.52. The company's 50 day moving average is $56.98 and its two-hundred day moving average is $56.33.

Unitil (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.74 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $207.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $193.03 million. Unitil had a net margin of 9.52% and a return on equity of 9.36%. Equities research analysts expect that Unitil Co. will post 3.08 EPS for the current year.

Unitil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. Unitil's payout ratio is presently 61.43%.

Unitil Company Profile

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations. The company distributes electricity in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and distributes natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area, as well as electricity and natural gas in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts.