MQS Management LLC Takes Position in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

MQS Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 2,061 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, valued at approximately $301,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. ORG Partners LLC bought a new position in American Water Works during the second quarter worth about $30,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of American Water Works by 155.6% in the 3rd 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. Hantz Financial Services Inc. acquired a new position in shares of American Water Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $46,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. bought a new position in shares of American Water Works during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in American Water Works in the 3rd quarter valued at $51,000. Institutional investors own 86.58% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling at American Water Works

In other American Water Works news, Director Martha Clark Goss sold 710 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $142.85, for a total transaction of $101,423.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 36,880 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,268,308. This trade represents a 1.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.08% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages have issued reports on AWK. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on American Water Works in a report on Monday, October 7th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $124.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered shares of American Water Works from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and boosted their price target for the company from $127.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Bank of America reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Friday, September 20th. Wolfe Research raised American Water Works to a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada restated an “outperform” rating and set a $164.00 price target on shares of American Water Works in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $140.00.

American Water Works Price Performance

Shares of AWK stock opened at $132.11 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 12 month low of $113.34 and a 12 month high of $150.68. The firm has a market cap of $25.75 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.16, a PEG ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $141.44 and a 200 day moving average price of $137.25.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be issued a $0.765 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $3.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.32%. American Water Works’s dividend payout ratio is currently 60.59%.

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.