Stock Traders Purchase High Volume of Edison International Put Options (NYSE:EIX)

Edison International (NYSE:EIX) saw some unusual options trading on Wednesday. Stock investors bought 8,183 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 837% compared to the typical volume of 873 put options.

Edison International Trading Down 10.3 %

Shares of Edison International stock opened at $69.41 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $26.87 billion, a PE ratio of 20.35, a P/E/G ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 0.93. Edison International has a 1 year low of $63.15 and a 1 year high of $88.77. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.96, a current ratio of 0.88 and a quick ratio of 0.81. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $81.98 and a 200-day moving average price of $81.73.

Edison International (NYSE:EIX) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, October 29th. The utilities provider reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.38 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $5.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.01 billion. Edison International had a net margin of 8.52% and a return on equity of 13.17%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.38 earnings per share. Equities research analysts anticipate that Edison International will post 4.94 EPS for the current year.

Edison International Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, January 31st. Investors of record on Tuesday, January 7th will be issued a $0.8275 dividend. This represents a $3.31 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, January 7th. This is a boost from Edison International’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. Edison International’s payout ratio is 97.07%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

EIX has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Edison International from $94.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an “outperform” rating in a report on Friday, October 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Edison International from $87.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 30th. Barclays raised Edison International from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $91.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Edison International in a research report on Thursday, November 7th. They set a “buy” rating and a $93.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Edison International from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “underweight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Edison International has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $88.00.

Insider Activity

In related news, VP Adam S. Umanoff sold 25,619 shares of Edison International stock in a transaction on Thursday, October 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.05, for a total value of $2,127,657.95. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Highline Wealth Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Edison International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. Eastern Bank purchased a new stake in Edison International during the third quarter valued at about $27,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Edison International by 125.0% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 351 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 195 shares during the last quarter. Prospera Private Wealth LLC purchased a new stake in Edison International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Private Wealth LLC bought a new position in Edison International during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.95% of the company’s stock.

Edison International Company Profile

Edison International, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation and distribution of electric power. The company supplies and delivers electricity to approximately 50,000 square mile area of southern California to residential, commercial, industrial, public authorities, agricultural, and other sectors.