H2O America Plans Quarterly Dividend of $0.44 (NASDAQ:HTO)

H2O America (NASDAQ:HTO) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, January 26th, NASDAQ Dividends reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 9th will be paid a dividend of 0.44 per share by the utilities provider on Monday, March 2nd. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, February 9th.

H2O America has raised its dividend payment by an average of 0.1%per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 57 years. H2O America has a dividend payout ratio of 56.1% indicating that its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect H2O America to earn $2.95 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.76 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 59.7%.

H2O America Stock Up 2.3%

Shares of H2O America stock traded up $1.25 during trading on Friday, hitting $54.65. 105,280 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 297,158. The company has a current ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15. The stock’s fifty day simple moving average is $50.84 and its 200 day simple moving average is $49.33. The firm has a market cap of $1.96 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.48. H2O America has a 52-week low of $43.75 and a 52-week high of $57.17.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On H2O America

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. purchased a new position in H2O America during the 4th quarter worth approximately $133,834,000. Amundi acquired a new stake in H2O America during the 3rd quarter worth $105,965,000. Cerity Partners LLC purchased a new position in H2O America during the 4th quarter worth $70,830,000. First Trust Advisors LP acquired a new position in H2O America in the third quarter valued at $64,063,000. Finally, Nuance Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of H2O America during the fourth quarter worth about $44,420,000. 84.29% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About H2O America

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.