Inspire Investing LLC Makes New $498,000 Investment in Avista Corporation $AVA

Inspire Investing LLC acquired a new stake in Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 13,170 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $498,000.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Avista during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Avista by 54.8% during the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 884 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 313 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in Avista in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. GAMMA Investing LLC increased its stake in Avista by 48.5% in the 2nd quarter. GAMMA Investing LLC now owns 1,360 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $52,000 after buying an additional 444 shares during the period. Finally, Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Avista by 51.7% during the 2nd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,585 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $60,000 after buying an additional 540 shares during the last quarter. 85.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of Avista stock in a transaction 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 sale, the senior vice president owned 9,883 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $382,867.42. The trade was a 15.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Avista Stock Performance

Shares of AVA stock opened at $38.48 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.13 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.38, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $39.53 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.06. Avista Corporation has a one year low of $34.80 and a one year high of $43.09. 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 (NYSE:AVA) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 EPS for the quarter, beating 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%. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.23 EPS. Avista’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. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Avista Corporation will post 2.3 EPS for the current year.

Avista Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors 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 payout ratio is 83.40%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. Mizuho set a $42.00 target price on shares of Avista in a research report on Thursday, November 6th. Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Avista in a report on Monday. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Avista to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group lifted their price target on shares of Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the company a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $40.33.

Avista 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.