Gabelli Funds LLC Grows Holdings in Avista Corporation $AVA

Gabelli Funds LLC grew its holdings in shares of Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) by 9.0% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 458,300 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 37,800 shares during the period. Gabelli Funds LLC’s holdings in Avista were worth $17,663,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Sound Income Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Avista during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $7,381,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Avista by 8.0% during the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 519,946 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $19,659,000 after buying an additional 38,651 shares during the last quarter. Inspire Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,118,000. Nuance Investments LLC boosted its stake in shares of Avista by 50.4% during the 3rd quarter. Nuance Investments LLC now owns 288,203 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $10,897,000 after buying an additional 96,532 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Assenagon Asset Management S.A. boosted its stake in shares of Avista by 100.4% during the 4th quarter. Assenagon Asset Management S.A. now owns 343,989 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $13,257,000 after buying an additional 172,330 shares during the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avista

In other Avista news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,593 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, May 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.98, for a total value of $65,281.14. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 10,521 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $431,150.58. This trade represents a 13.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Bryan Alden Cox sold 1,768 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.18, for a total value of $71,038.24. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 8,401 shares in the company, valued at $337,552.18. This represents a 17.39% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale is available in the SEC filing. Insiders sold 3,916 shares of company stock worth $158,408 over the last ninety days. 0.78% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Avista Stock Performance

Shares of AVA opened at $41.21 on Tuesday. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $40.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $40.28. Avista Corporation has a 12-month low of $35.50 and a 12-month high of $43.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.41 billion, a PE ratio of 16.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 0.90 and a quick ratio of 0.60.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.04 by $0.06. Avista had a return on equity of 7.65% and a net margin of 10.75%.The firm had revenue of $570.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $643.55 million. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.98 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 8.0% on a year-over-year basis. Avista has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Avista Corporation will post 2.59 EPS for the current year.

Avista Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 19th will be given a $0.4925 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, May 19th. This represents a $1.97 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.8%. Avista’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.49%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AVA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. KeyCorp reiterated a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avista in a research note on Tuesday, January 27th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $39.00 price objective on Avista in a research note on Tuesday, April 21st. Weiss Ratings upgraded Avista from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 1st. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Avista from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 28th. Finally, Wall Street Zen upgraded Avista from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, April 18th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $40.00.

Avista 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.