Forza Wealth Management LLC Cuts Holdings in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Forza Wealth Management LLC lessened its stake in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) by 13.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,165 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 672 shares during the quarter. Forza Wealth Management LLC’s holdings in American Water Works were worth $519,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC raised its holdings in American Water Works by 155.6% in the third quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 299 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $44,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of American Water Works during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. Assetmark Inc. lifted its position in American Water Works by 31.7% during the third quarter. Assetmark Inc. now owns 370 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $54,000 after acquiring an additional 89 shares during the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in American Water Works by 446.2% in the third quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 426 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $62,000 after acquiring an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC grew its holdings in American Water Works by 25.0% in the third quarter. Sugarloaf Wealth Management LLC now owns 480 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $70,000 after purchasing an additional 96 shares during the last quarter. 86.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts recently weighed in on AWK shares. Wolfe Research upgraded American Water Works to a “hold” rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of American Water Works in a report on Monday, October 7th. They issued an “underperform” rating and a $124.00 price objective on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded American Water Works from an “underweight” rating to an “equal weight” rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $133.00 to $129.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 7th. UBS Group upgraded American Water Works from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $151.00 to $155.00 in a research note on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and set a $164.00 price target on shares of American Water Works in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $141.00.

American Water Works Price Performance

Shares of American Water Works stock traded down $0.43 on Monday, hitting $120.69. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 655,624 shares, compared to its average volume of 878,151. The company has a market capitalization of $23.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.71. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 1 year low of $113.34 and a 1 year high of $150.68. 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 firm has a fifty day moving average price of $130.53 and a 200-day moving average price of $137.24.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 4th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a dividend of $0.765 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. This represents a $3.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.54%. American Water Works’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 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.