Avista (NYSE:AVA) Issues Earnings Results, Misses Expectations By $0.04 EPS

Avista (NYSE:AVA) posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday. The utilities provider reported $0.38 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.42 by ($0.04), FiscalAI reports. The business had revenue of $421.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $425.52 million. Avista had a return on equity of 7.85% and a net margin of 11.83%.

Here are the key takeaways from Avista’s conference call:

• Consolidated earnings rose, but utility earnings improved only modestly. First-nine-month consolidated EPS increased to $2.11 from $1.51, largely reflecting a recovery in investment valuations and ERock’s IPO; non-GAAP utility EPS was $1.76 versus $1.67.
• Avista reaffirmed 2026 utility earnings guidance of $2.52–$2.72 per share and expects results near the midpoint. Management cited cost discipline and improved cost recovery, while noting a $0.09-per-share ERM headwind recognized through the first three quarters.
• Avista has paused processing new large data-center applications requiring significant generation or transmission investment for at least 12 months, and excluded compute-related growth from its capital plan. The company said it will require future projects to cover their costs and contribute to existing-customer affordability.
• The company expects $3.6 billion in base utility capital expenditures from 2027–2031 and is evaluating additional resources for rising peak-day needs. It also cited prospective commercial, manufacturing, and mining loads totaling about 85 MW, though timing and realization are uncertain.
• A decision in Avista’s Washington rate case is expected in mid-December, with disagreement over the proposed rate-plan duration and other terms. Management said a constructive outcome, alongside future Idaho and Oregon rate cases, would support its roughly 9% long-term utility ROE expectation, which includes 0.6% of structural lag.

Avista Stock Up 5.5%

Avista stock opened at $40.22 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $3.37 billion, a PE ratio of 14.52, a P/E/G ratio of 4.02 and a beta of 0.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.69 and a current ratio of 1.10. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $36.64 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $39.71. Avista has a twelve month low of $34.46 and a twelve month high of $43.50.

Key Stories Impacting Avista

Here are the key news stories impacting Avista this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Avista said third-quarter net income increased year over year and reaffirmed its 2026 utility earnings guidance, signaling it remains on track with its outlook. Avista Q3 2026 financial results
• Negative Sentiment: Quarterly EPS was $0.38, below the $0.42 consensus estimate, and revenue of $421 million fell short of analysts’ $425.52 million forecast. The earnings misses could weigh on sentiment despite the rise in net income and maintained guidance. Avista quarterly earnings results

Insider Activity

In other Avista news, VP Joshua Diluciano sold 4,675 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.24, for a total value of $174,097.00. Following the transaction, the vice president owned 8,334 shares in the company, valued at $310,358.16. The trade was a 35.94% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the company’s stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AVA has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Avista from $37.00 to $35.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research report on Friday, October 9th. Weiss Ratings downgraded shares of Avista from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “hold (c+)” rating in a research note on Friday, October 9th. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $38.75.

About Avista

Avista Corporation is an energy company headquartered in Spokane, Washington. Through its Avista Utilities subsidiary, the company provides regulated electric and natural gas services to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.

Avista’s electric operations serve communities in eastern Washington and northern Idaho, while its natural gas service territory includes portions of Washington, Idaho, and Oregon. The company’s utility activities include generating, purchasing, transmitting, distributing, and supplying energy, as well as maintaining the infrastructure needed to deliver those services.

The company traces its history to the founding of Washington Water Power in 1889.