Nisa Investment Advisors LLC Sells 15,099 Shares of Avista Corporation $AVA

Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) by 19.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 61,921 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 15,099 shares during the period. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC’s holdings in Avista were worth $2,386,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised its position in Avista by 5.3% during the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 65,494 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,741,000 after purchasing an additional 3,296 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of Avista by 11.1% during the 1st quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 69,831 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,924,000 after purchasing an additional 6,967 shares during the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association bought a new position in shares of Avista during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $201,000. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC raised its holdings in Avista by 26.0% during the 1st quarter. UBS AM A Distinct Business Unit of UBS Asset Management Americas LLC now owns 283,182 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $11,857,000 after buying an additional 58,504 shares during the period. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new stake in Avista during the 1st quarter valued at $134,000. 85.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Avista Price Performance

AVA opened at $41.31 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $40.73 and a 200 day moving average of $39.52. The stock has a market cap of $3.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.36, a PEG ratio of 2.28 and a beta of 0.23. The company has a quick ratio of 0.56, a current ratio of 0.83 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04. Avista Corporation has a 52-week low of $35.50 and a 52-week high of $43.50.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last released its earnings results on Saturday, January 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.88 earnings per share for the quarter. Avista had a return on equity of 7.29% and a net margin of 9.83%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Avista Corporation will post 2.3 EPS for the current year.

Avista Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 13th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th were issued a $0.4925 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 25th. This is a boost from Avista’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.8%. Avista’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 82.77%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms have commented on AVA. KeyCorp reaffirmed a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avista in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Avista from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Saturday, March 28th. Zacks Research lowered shares of Avista from a “hold” rating to a “strong sell” rating in a report on Tuesday. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their price target on shares of Avista from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 20th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on shares of Avista from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, four have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Avista currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $39.50.

Insider Activity at Avista

In related news, SVP Bryan Alden Cox sold 1,768 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.18, for a total value of $71,038.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 8,401 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $337,552.18. This trade represents a 17.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Avista Company Profile

Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.