Avista (NYSE:AVA) Given New $39.00 Price Target at Jefferies Financial Group

Avista (NYSE:AVA) had its price target decreased by Jefferies Financial Group from $41.00 to $39.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday,Benzinga reports. Jefferies Financial Group currently has a hold rating on the utilities provider’s stock.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company dropped their target price on shares of Avista from $38.00 to $37.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 20th. Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Avista in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Mizuho set a $42.00 target price on Avista in a research note on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, KeyCorp restated a “sector weight” rating on shares of Avista in a report on Tuesday. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $39.33.

Avista Stock Performance

Shares of Avista stock opened at $40.32 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.28 billion, a PE ratio of 17.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.10 and a beta of 0.30. The company has a quick ratio of 0.60, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. Avista has a 52 week low of $35.50 and a 52 week high of $43.09. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $39.41 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.33.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (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 company posted $0.23 EPS. The business’s revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. Avista has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that Avista will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Avista Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Shareholders of record on Monday, November 24th were given a $0.49 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 24th. This represents a $1.96 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.9%. Avista’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 83.40%.

Insider Activity at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred 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 directly owned 9,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $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 accessible through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.94% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Salomon & Ludwin LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter worth $26,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Avista during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Bessemer Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Avista by 54.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 884 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 313 shares in the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Avista in the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter worth about $43,000. 85.24% of the stock is 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.