Wells Fargo & Company Issues Pessimistic Forecast for Avista (NYSE:AVA) Stock Price

Avista (NYSE:AVA) had its target price decreased by equities researchers at Wells Fargo & Company from $38.00 to $37.00 in a note issued to investors on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. The brokerage currently has an “equal weight” rating on the utilities provider’s stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s target price suggests a potential downside of 7.37% from the company’s previous close.

Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Avista in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on shares of Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Mizuho set a $42.00 price target on shares of Avista in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.00.

Avista Price Performance

Shares of AVA stock traded down $0.24 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $39.95. 86,768 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 542,380. Avista has a fifty-two week low of $35.47 and a fifty-two week high of $43.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.60. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $39.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.22. The company has a market cap of $3.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.06 and a beta of 0.30.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.27 by $0.09. Avista had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 7.18%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.23 earnings per share. Avista has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Avista will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of Avista stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.74, for a total transaction of $69,150.90. Following the transaction, the senior vice president owned 9,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $382,867.42. This trade represents a 15.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.96% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AVA. Salomon & Ludwin LLC acquired a new position in Avista during the third quarter worth $26,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Avista in the 2nd quarter valued at $34,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Avista by 54.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 884 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new position in shares of Avista during the 2nd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter worth about $43,000. 85.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Avista

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.