Short Interest in SJW Group (NYSE:SJW) Increases By 30.9%

SJW Group (NYSE:SJW) saw a significant growth in short interest in February. As of February 28th, there was short interest totalling 450,200 shares, a growth of 30.9% from the February 13th total of 343,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 279,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.6 days. Approximately 1.4% of the company’s shares are short sold.

SJW Group Stock Down 0.5 %

SJW stock traded down $0.25 during mid-day trading on Monday, hitting $53.84. 58,439 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 200,079. The company has a market capitalization of $1.81 billion, a PE ratio of 19.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.94 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25. SJW Group has a twelve month low of $44.91 and a twelve month high of $62.18. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $50.84 and a 200 day simple moving average of $54.04.

SJW Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 10th were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This is a positive change from SJW Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.12%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 10th. SJW Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 58.95%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Bank of America raised shares of SJW Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lowered their price target for the company from $59.00 to $55.00 in a report on Monday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of SJW Group from $53.00 to $57.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th. Finally, StockNews.com raised shares of SJW Group from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Friday, February 28th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Arizona State Retirement System grew its holdings in SJW Group by 2.2% during the 4th quarter. Arizona State Retirement System now owns 9,015 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $444,000 after acquiring an additional 197 shares in the last quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue lifted its position in shares of SJW Group by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. State of Alaska Department of Revenue now owns 17,198 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $846,000 after buying an additional 210 shares during the last quarter. Stifel Financial Corp lifted its position in shares of SJW Group by 2.2% in the 4th quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 10,270 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $505,000 after buying an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of SJW Group by 5.6% in the 4th quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 4,430 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $218,000 after buying an additional 233 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Russell Investments Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of SJW Group by 64.4% in the 4th quarter. Russell Investments Group Ltd. now owns 766 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. 84.29% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About SJW Group

SJW Group, through its subsidiaries, provides water utility and other related services in the United States. It operates in Water Utility Services and Real Estate Services segments. The company engages in the production, purchase, storage, purification, distribution, wholesale, and retail sale of water and wastewater services; and supplies groundwater from wells, surface water from watershed run-off and diversion, reclaimed water, and imported water purchased from the Santa Clara Valley Water District.