Avista (NYSE:AVA) Updates FY 2026 Earnings Guidance

Avista (NYSE:AVA) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Wednesday morning. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 2.520-2.720 for the period, compared to the consensus estimate of 2.760. The company issued revenue guidance of -.

Avista Trading Down 1.9%

Shares of Avista stock traded down $0.75 during trading on Thursday, reaching $39.86. 110,857 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 633,366. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market cap of $3.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.95, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.19 and a beta of 0.28. Avista has a 1 year low of $35.50 and a 1 year high of $43.50. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $40.33 and its 200 day moving average is $38.96.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 25th. The utilities provider reported $0.88 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.01 by ($0.13). Avista had a net margin of 9.62% and a return on equity of 7.18%. The business had revenue of ($87.00) million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $541.10 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.84 EPS. Avista has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Avista will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Avista Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Insider Transactions at Avista

In other Avista news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of Avista 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 approximately $382,867.42. The trade was a 15.30% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.96% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

More Avista News

Here are the key news stories impacting Avista this week:

• Positive Sentiment: 2025 utility strength — Avista reported higher 2025 GAAP net income ($193M, $2.38/sh) and increased non‑GAAP utility earnings ($207M, $2.55/sh), driven by rate case outcomes, customer/load growth and cost control. This supports the company’s long‑term regulated growth thesis. Avista Corp. Reports 2025 Financial Results
• Neutral Sentiment: Management initiated 2026 non‑GAAP utility earnings guidance of $2.52–$2.72/sh (midpoint ~$2.62). Guidance implies continued utility growth but was marginally below some street expectations. The range is contingent on normal weather, ERM impacts and effective regulatory outcomes. Quiver Quant: Reports Increased Net Income
• Negative Sentiment: Q4 earnings miss — Avista reported Q4 EPS of $0.88 vs. consensus $1.01, and revenue figures well below expectations for the quarter. The miss and weaker quarterly cadence are driving near‑term downside pressure. Q4 Earnings Snapshot / MarketBeat
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory and one‑time headwinds — a late‑December Washington order tied to Avista’s Colstrip exit requires a customer refund and reduced utility earnings; additionally, a large industrial customer will return to procuring power independently, lowering 2026 utility EPS by ~$0.12. GlobeNewswire release
• Negative Sentiment: Higher capital spending and financing plans — Avista expects Avista Utilities capex of $585M in 2026 (rising thereafter) and plans ~$230M debt issuance plus up to $90M equity, which could pressure near‑term leverage/coverage metrics and investor sentiment. Earnings call transcript / Seeking Alpha
• Negative Sentiment: Non‑regulated losses — increased losses (~$14M) in non‑regulated investments (clean tech and biotech valuations) add volatility to GAAP results versus utility metrics. Quiver Quant summary

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Avista

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Lido Advisors LLC raised its position in Avista by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 7,941 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $302,000 after acquiring an additional 251 shares during the period. UMB Bank n.a. raised its holdings in Avista by 90.7% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 637 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $25,000 after purchasing an additional 303 shares during the period. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in Avista by 0.5% during the third quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 62,492 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,363,000 after purchasing an additional 339 shares in the last quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its position in Avista by 0.5% in the second quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 78,714 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,987,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC increased its position in Avista by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,797 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $609,000 after buying an additional 605 shares in the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.