Fmr LLC Boosts Stake in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Fmr LLC grew its holdings in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 353,641 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 36,424 shares during the period. Fmr LLC’s holdings in American Water Works were worth $51,716,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new stake in American Water Works during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of American Water Works by 155.6% during the third quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 299 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Water Works in the third quarter worth $51,000. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new stake in American Water Works in the second quarter valued at $46,000. Finally, Assetmark Inc. grew its holdings in American Water Works by 31.7% during the 3rd quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 370 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $54,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares in the last quarter. 86.58% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Water Works Stock Performance

AWK stock opened at $132.37 on Friday. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $113.34 and a 1 year high of $150.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.80 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.21, a PEG ratio of 3.05 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.58. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $137.73 and its two-hundred day moving average is $137.83.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $0.765 dividend. This represents a $3.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.31%. American Water Works’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 60.59%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

AWK has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. Mizuho lowered shares of American Water Works from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their target price for the company from $131.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Wolfe Research upgraded American Water Works to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Bank of America reiterated an “underperform” rating and issued a $140.00 target price on shares of American Water Works in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on American Water Works in a research report on Monday, October 7th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $124.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and issued a $164.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, American Water Works currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $142.29.

About American Water Works

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.