Inspire Investing LLC Takes Position in Avista Corporation $AVA

Inspire Investing LLC purchased a new stake in Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor purchased 13,170 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $498,000.

Other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in shares of Avista by 2.0% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 14,042 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $533,000 after purchasing an additional 269 shares in the last quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Avista by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. Convergence Investment Partners LLC now owns 49,613 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,883,000 after buying an additional 286 shares in the last quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. raised its position in shares of Avista by 3.7% in the 2nd quarter. Ameritas Investment Partners Inc. now owns 8,226 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $312,000 after buying an additional 295 shares in the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. increased its stake in Avista by 0.3% in the third quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. now owns 85,589 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $3,236,000 after acquiring an additional 295 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bessemer Group Inc. raised its position 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 purchasing an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Avista Stock Up 0.3%

Shares of NYSE AVA opened at $38.48 on Friday. 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 has a market capitalization of $3.13 billion, a PE ratio of 16.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.30. Avista Corporation has a one year low of $34.80 and a one year high of $43.09. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $39.53 and its 200-day moving average price is $38.06.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.09. Avista had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 7.18%. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.23 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Avista has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Avista Corporation will post 2.3 EPS for the current year.

Avista Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 24th were given a dividend of $0.49 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 24th. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.1%. Avista’s dividend payout ratio is presently 83.40%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AVA. Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Avista in a research report on Monday. Mizuho set a $42.00 price objective on Avista in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Avista to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, Avista presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $40.33.

Insider Transactions at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.74, for a total value of $69,150.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 9,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $382,867.42. This represents a 15.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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.