Shell Asset Management Co. Increases Stake in American Water Works Company, Inc. $AWK

Shell Asset Management Co. boosted its stake in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) by 90.3% during the 2nd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 32,284 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 15,323 shares during the period. Shell Asset Management Co.’s holdings in American Water Works were worth $4,491,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in AWK. Oliver Lagore Vanvalin Investment Group purchased a new position in American Water Works in the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Cloud Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Water Works in the first quarter worth about $29,000. WPG Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Water Works during the first quarter worth about $29,000. Flaharty Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in American Water Works in the first quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Finally, Wayfinding Financial LLC acquired a new position in American Water Works in the 1st quarter worth approximately $48,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 86.58% of the company’s stock.

American Water Works Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:AWK opened at $142.47 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.15, a current ratio of 0.35 and a quick ratio of 0.32. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $118.74 and a 1 year high of $155.50. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.80 billion, a PE ratio of 25.67, a P/E/G ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.70. The business’s 50 day moving average price is $140.89 and its 200-day moving average price is $142.14.

American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, July 30th. The utilities provider reported $1.48 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.53 by ($0.05). American Water Works had a net margin of 21.91% and a return on equity of 10.34%. The firm had revenue of $1.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.22 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.42 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. American Water Works has set its FY 2025 guidance at 5.700-5.750 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts expect that American Water Works Company, Inc. will post 5.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, September 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, August 12th were issued a $0.8275 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, August 12th. This represents a $3.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.3%. American Water Works’s dividend payout ratio is presently 59.64%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently commented on AWK. Barclays cut their price objective on shares of American Water Works from $138.00 to $128.00 and set an “underweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, July 10th. UBS Group decreased their price target on American Water Works from $156.00 to $151.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, August 12th. Argus raised their price objective on shares of American Water Works from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, August 14th. Mizuho lifted their target price on shares of American Water Works from $148.00 to $149.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of American Water Works in a report on Saturday, September 27th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, six have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $143.57.

American Water Works Profile

American Water Works Company, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides water and wastewater services in the United States. It offers water and wastewater services to approximately 1,700 communities in 14 states serving approximately 3.5 million active customers. The company serves residential customers; commercial customers, including food and beverage providers, commercial property developers and proprietors, and energy suppliers; fire service and private fire customers; industrial customers, such as large-scale manufacturers, mining, and production operations; public authorities comprising government buildings and other public sector facilities, such as schools and universities; and other utilities and community water and wastewater systems.