Avista (NYSE:AVA) Announces Quarterly Earnings Results, Beats Expectations By $0.09 EPS

Avista (NYSE:AVA) posted its earnings results on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $0.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.27 by $0.09, Zacks reports. Avista had a net margin of 9.13% and a return on equity of 6.86%. The firm had revenue of $403.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $402.50 million. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.23 EPS. Avista’s revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Avista updated its FY 2025 guidance to 2.520-2.720 EPS.

Avista Price Performance

AVA traded up $0.39 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $40.81. 92,006 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 696,198. Avista has a one year low of $34.80 and a one year high of $43.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.14 and a beta of 0.39. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.43 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.00. The company has a quick ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Bryan Alden Cox bought 3,671 shares of Avista stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 16th. The shares were bought at an average price of $35.55 per share, for a total transaction of $130,504.05. Following the purchase, the senior vice president owned 9,989 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $355,108.95. This trade represents a 58.10% increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, VP David J. Meyer sold 1,367 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Friday, September 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.72, for a total value of $50,196.24. Following the transaction, the vice president directly owned 8,394 shares in the company, valued at approximately $308,227.68. This represents a 14.00% decrease in their position. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. Corporate insiders own 0.94% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC acquired a new position in Avista during the second quarter worth $444,000. State of Wyoming grew its position in shares of Avista by 159.5% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 8,059 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $306,000 after purchasing an additional 4,954 shares during the last quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board lifted its holdings in Avista by 9.4% during the 2nd quarter. Public Sector Pension Investment Board now owns 274,623 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $10,422,000 after purchasing an additional 23,534 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in Avista in the 2nd quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co grew its holdings in Avista by 1.2% in the 2nd quarter. CANADA LIFE ASSURANCE Co now owns 71,612 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,718,000 after buying an additional 879 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.24% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have issued reports on the stock. Mizuho set a $42.00 price target on shares of Avista in a research report on Thursday. Jefferies Financial Group lifted their target price on shares of Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Avista to a “hold” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Finally, Weiss Ratings restated a “hold (c)” rating on shares of Avista in a report on Wednesday, October 8th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $40.33.

About Avista

Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana.