Dearborn Partners LLC Reduces Stock Holdings in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Dearborn Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 218,953 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 4,111 shares during the period. Dearborn Partners LLC owned approximately 0.11% of American Water Works worth $27,257,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in AWK. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of American Water Works in the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Providence First Trust Co acquired a new stake in shares of American Water Works during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of American Water Works during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of American Water Works during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $48,000. Finally, Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton lifted its stake in shares of American Water Works by 29.0% in the 4th quarter. Rosenberg Matthew Hamilton now owns 400 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 90 shares during the period. 86.58% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

American Water Works Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AWK opened at $149.16 on Tuesday. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $127.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of $134.40. The stock has a market capitalization of $29.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a quick ratio of 0.35, a current ratio of 0.39 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 52 week low of $113.34 and a 52 week high of $152.07.

American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The utilities provider reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.09. American Water Works had a net margin of 22.44% and a return on equity of 10.29%. The firm had revenue of $1.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.11 billion. On average, equities analysts predict that American Water Works Company, Inc. will post 5.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research firms have weighed in on AWK. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on shares of American Water Works from $129.00 to $133.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, February 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on American Water Works from $147.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 28th. Finally, UBS Group raised shares of American Water Works from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $151.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $140.57.

American Water Works Company 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.