GSA Capital Partners LLP Raises Stock Position in Avista Corporation $AVA

GSA Capital Partners LLP lifted its stake in shares of Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) by 570.3% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 73,183 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 62,265 shares during the quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP’s holdings in Avista were worth $2,820,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Headlands Technologies LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Aquatic Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Avista by 60.0% during the 2nd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 1,949 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $73,000 after buying an additional 731 shares during the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP lifted its position in shares of Avista by 14.4% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 2,020 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $78,000 after buying an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Finally, ANTIPODES PARTNERS Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Avista during the 4th quarter worth approximately $92,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.24% of the company’s stock.

Avista Price Performance

Shares of AVA opened at $41.21 on Tuesday. Avista Corporation has a twelve month low of $35.50 and a twelve month high of $43.50. The stock’s 50 day moving average is $40.53 and its two-hundred day moving average is $40.28. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.41 billion, a PE ratio of 16.42, a P/E/G ratio of 3.78 and a beta of 0.24. The company has a current ratio of 0.90, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.01.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, May 5th. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.04 by $0.06. Avista had a return on equity of 7.65% and a net margin of 10.75%.The company had revenue of $570.00 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $643.55 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.98 EPS. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Avista has set its FY 2026 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Avista Corporation will post 2.59 earnings per share for the current year.

Avista Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, June 12th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, May 19th will be issued a $0.4925 dividend. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.8%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 19th. Avista’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.49%.

Insider Transactions at Avista

In other news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,593 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.98, for a total value of $65,281.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 10,521 shares in the company, valued at $431,150.58. This trade represents a 13.15% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Bryan Alden Cox sold 1,768 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.18, for a total transaction of $71,038.24. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president owned 8,401 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $337,552.18. This represents a 17.39% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Insiders sold a total of 3,916 shares of company stock valued at $158,408 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.78% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research firms recently commented on AVA. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Avista from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Saturday, April 18th. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Avista from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on shares of Avista from $41.00 to $39.00 and set a “hold” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 28th. Wells Fargo & Company set a $39.00 price target on shares of Avista in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Mizuho upped their price target on shares of Avista from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Wednesday, May 6th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating, five have given a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.00.

About Avista

Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.