Avista Corporation (AVA) To Go Ex-Dividend on February 25th

Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, February 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be paid a dividend of 0.4925 per share by the utilities provider on Friday, March 13th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, February 25th. This is a 0.5% increase from Avista’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49.

Avista has increased its dividend payment by an average of 0.0%per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 23 consecutive years. Avista has a payout ratio of 71.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities research analysts expect Avista to earn $2.53 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.96 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 77.5%.

Avista Stock Performance

NYSE AVA opened at $41.49 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $3.38 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.66, a P/E/G ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91. Avista has a 52-week low of $35.50 and a 52-week high of $43.09. The company has a fifty day moving average of $39.52 and a 200-day moving average of $38.59.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $38.74, for a total transaction of $69,150.90. Following the sale, the senior vice president directly owned 9,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $382,867.42. This trade represents a 15.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.94% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Avista

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

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.