Short Interest in Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:GWRS) Expands By 55.4%

Global Water Resources, Inc. (NASDAQ:GWRS) saw a significant growth in short interest in the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totaling 245,176 shares, a growth of 55.4% from the December 31st total of 157,772 shares. Currently, 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short. Based on an average daily volume of 64,415 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.8 days. Based on an average daily volume of 64,415 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.8 days. Currently, 1.9% of the shares of the company are sold short.

Global Water Resources Price Performance

GWRS stock traded down $0.01 during trading on Friday, hitting $8.67. The stock had a trading volume of 75,337 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,524. Global Water Resources has a twelve month low of $8.28 and a twelve month high of $11.84. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $8.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.18 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $249.26 million, a P/E ratio of 54.19 and a beta of 0.96.

Global Water Resources (NASDAQ:GWRS) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, November 12th. The utilities provider reported $0.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.09 by ($0.02). Global Water Resources had a return on equity of 6.84% and a net margin of 7.87%.The firm had revenue of $15.52 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $15.20 million. As a group, research analysts predict that Global Water Resources will post 0.28 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Global Water Resources Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 16th were paid a $0.0253 dividend. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 16th. Global Water Resources’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 187.50%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on GWRS shares. Roth Mkm set a $15.00 price objective on Global Water Resources in a research note on Monday, November 17th. Wall Street Zen cut Global Water Resources from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research report on Friday, October 3rd. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c-)” rating on shares of Global Water Resources in a research report on Thursday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $15.00.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. CWM LLC grew its position in shares of Global Water Resources by 6.7% in the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 14,918 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $154,000 after purchasing an additional 932 shares in the last quarter. Redmond Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Global Water Resources by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Redmond Asset Management LLC now owns 330,272 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $3,402,000 after acquiring an additional 1,685 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers raised its holdings in shares of Global Water Resources by 12.0% during the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 17,595 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $181,000 after acquiring an additional 1,884 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. raised its holdings in shares of Global Water Resources by 16.5% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 13,440 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $138,000 after acquiring an additional 1,900 shares during the period. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. boosted its position in shares of Global Water Resources by 152.6% during the 3rd quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 3,461 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,091 shares during the last quarter. 27.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Global Water Resources

Global Water Resources, Inc (NASDAQ:GWRS) is a publicly traded holding company based in Scottsdale, Arizona, specializing in the ownership and management of water and wastewater utilities. The company provides critical potable water delivery, wastewater collection and treatment, and reclaimed water services to residential, commercial and industrial customers across select communities in Central and Southern Arizona.

The company operates multiple regulated utility systems, serving communities such as Anthem, Biltmore, Florence and San Tan Valley.