Avista (NYSE:AVA) Issues Earnings Results

Avista (NYSE:AVA) issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $0.88 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.01 by ($0.13), Zacks reports. The company had revenue of ($87.00) million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $541.10 million. Avista had a return on equity of 7.18% and a net margin of 9.62%.During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.84 earnings per share. Avista updated its FY 2026 guidance to 2.520-2.720 EPS.

Here are the key takeaways from Avista’s conference call:

• Avista is emphasizing results from its core utility business and reported 2025 non‑GAAP utility EPS of $2.55 (vs. $2.38 in 2024) while consolidated EPS was $2.38, signaling management’s intent to reduce volatility from non‑regulated earnings.
• From the 2025 RFP Avista selected a 14 MW turbine upgrade, a 100 MW build‑transfer battery, a 200 MW wind PPA and ~40 MW of demand response, which the company says will add flexible, resilient capacity without increasing emissions.
• Avista received a significant deposit from a data‑center developer for an initial 125 MW load (potentially ramping to 500 MW by 2030) and still has roughly 1,700 MW in its large‑load queue, a pipeline that could materially aid affordability and growth.
• A December Washington Commission order required adjustments to Colstrip‑related investment recovery, which reduced 2025 EPS by about $0.07 and kept utility earnings from exceeding the guidance midpoint.
• Management issued 2026 non‑GAAP utility guidance of $2.52–$2.72, plans $585M capex in 2026 and $3.4B from 2026–2030 (5% base CAGR) with potential incremental $350M for a large customer; it expects ~$230M long‑term debt and up to $90M equity issuance in 2026, and raised the dividend to $1.97 targeting a 60%–70% payout range.

Avista Trading Down 2.0%

Avista stock traded down $0.80 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $39.81. The stock had a trading volume of 1,415,290 shares, compared to its average volume of 667,098. The stock’s 50-day simple moving average is $40.33 and its 200 day simple moving average is $38.96. Avista has a twelve month low of $35.50 and a twelve month high of $43.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a current ratio of 0.91. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.24 billion, a PE ratio of 16.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.28.

Avista Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 13th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 25th will be issued a $0.4925 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 25th. This is an increase from Avista’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.49. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.9%. Avista’s payout ratio is 83.40%.

Avista News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting Avista this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Full‑year operating performance improved: GAAP net income rose to $193M and non‑GAAP utility earnings increased to $207M, driven by rate case outcomes, customer/load growth and cost discipline. Avista 2025 Results & 2026 Guidance (GlobeNewswire)
• Positive Sentiment: Management emphasizes utility strength and constructive regulatory outcomes that support steady utility earnings growth over the long term. Quiver AI summary
• Neutral Sentiment: Avista initiated 2026 non‑GAAP utility earnings guidance of $2.52–$2.72 per share (company guidance provides a planning baseline for investors). Press release — guidance
• Neutral Sentiment: Capital plan and liquidity: Avista expects elevated utility capex (base $585M in 2026, rising later years) and plans ~$230M of long‑term debt and up to $90M of equity issuance in 2026 — supports growth but raises funding/execute risk. Capex & financing details
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 miss: Avista reported Q4 EPS of $0.88 vs. consensus ~$1.01 and revenue shortfalls vs. estimates — an immediate catalyst for the price decline. Earnings snapshot (MarketBeat)
• Negative Sentiment: Guidance & customer headwind: The 2026 guidance midpoint is below sell‑side consensus (company guidance 2.52–2.72 vs. consensus ~2.76) after a large industrial customer said it will resume procuring power independently earlier than expected (a ~$0.12 EPS headwind). Guidance detail (GlobeNewswire)
• Negative Sentiment: Non‑regulated and regulatory drag: Losses in non‑regulated businesses (notably clean‑tech investments) widened and a late‑Dec Washington order tied to Colstrip led to refunds/adjustments — both items pressure GAAP volatility. Quiver — non‑regulated losses & Colstrip note
• Negative Sentiment: Insider sale: SVP Bryan Alden Cox sold 1,768 shares (reducing his stake ~17%), a small but visible insider sale disclosed in an SEC filing. SEC filing — insider sale

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

AVA has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on shares of Avista from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings upgraded Avista from a “hold (c+)” rating to a “buy (b-)” rating in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on Avista from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a “hold” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 28th. KeyCorp reaffirmed a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avista in a research report on Tuesday, January 27th. Finally, Mizuho set a $42.00 target price on Avista in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Avista currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $39.33.

Insider Transactions at Avista

In other news, SVP Bryan Alden Cox sold 1,768 shares of Avista stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.18, for a total value of $71,038.24. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 8,401 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $337,552.18. The trade was a 17.39% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred 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 approximately $382,867.42. This trade represents a 15.30% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 3,680 shares of company stock worth $145,380. Company insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Avista

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AVA. Corient Private Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Avista during the fourth quarter worth about $208,000. Boothbay Fund Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 4th quarter valued at about $207,000. Safeguard Investment Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 4th quarter valued at about $201,000. United Services Automobile Association acquired a new position in Avista during the 1st quarter worth approximately $201,000. Finally, Strs Ohio purchased a new position in Avista in the 1st quarter worth approximately $134,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.24% 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.