Unitil (NYSE:UTL) Hits New 12-Month Low - Here's What Happened

Unitil Corporation (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) shares hit a new 52-week low during trading on Monday . The company traded as low as $50.81 and last traded at $51.59, with a volume of 100713 shares. The stock had previously closed at $51.06.

Unitil Price Performance

The company has a market capitalization of $841.29 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.66 and a beta of 0.63. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $52.79 and a 200-day simple moving average of $54.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 0.66 and a quick ratio of 0.61.

Unitil (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $1.74 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.78 by ($0.04). Unitil had a net margin of 9.74% and a return on equity of 9.49%. The company had revenue of $207.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $193.03 million. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Unitil Corporation will post 3.08 EPS for the current year.

Unitil Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, May 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 15th were given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $1.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.48%. Unitil's dividend payout ratio is currently 61.43%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Unitil

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of UTL. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Unitil during the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,082,000. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its position in Unitil by 10.4% during the fourth quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 36,436 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,974,000 after purchasing an additional 3,428 shares in the last quarter. KLP Kapitalforvaltning AS purchased a new position in Unitil during the fourth quarter worth approximately $385,000. WINTON GROUP Ltd boosted its position in Unitil by 7.1% during the fourth quarter. WINTON GROUP Ltd now owns 19,148 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,038,000 after purchasing an additional 1,277 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Pictet Asset Management Holding SA lifted its position in shares of Unitil by 32.0% in the fourth quarter. Pictet Asset Management Holding SA now owns 5,374 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $291,000 after acquiring an additional 1,304 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 76.76% of the company's stock.

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.