Pictet Asset Management SA, a global investment management firm, has recently reduced its holdings in Unitil Co. The company filed a Form 13F with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), revealing that it has decreased its stake in Unitil by 87.2% during the first quarter of this year. Pictet Asset Management SA now owns 4,148 shares of the utilities provider’s stock, down from its previous ownership of 28,341 shares. The total value of their holdings in Unitil at the end of the quarter was $237,000.
This development comes as Unitil recently released its quarterly earnings data on August 1st, providing valuable insights into the financial performance of the company. According to reports, Unitil reported earnings per share (EPS) of $0.25 for the quarter, falling short of the consensus estimate by ($0.02). The company generated revenue totaling $103.40 million for the same period, surpassing analysts’ expectations of $100.00 million.
In terms of profitability indicators, Unitil demonstrated a net margin of 7.27% and a return on equity of 9.13%. These figures highlight the company’s ability to generate profits relative to its revenue and shareholders’ investments respectively.
Looking ahead, equities analysts predict that Unitil Co.’s earnings per share for the current fiscal year will amount to approximately $2.77. This forecast provides investors and stakeholders with insight into what they can expect from Unitil’s financial performance over the next few months.
Investors and industry observers should closely monitor developments involving Pictet Asset Management SA’s divestment from Unitil as well as any updates pertaining to Unitil’s financial performance moving forward. By staying up-to-date with these events and analysis reports such as our latest report on Unitil, individuals can make informed decisions regarding investment strategies and outlooks in this sector.
Institutional Investors Show Increasing Interest in Unitil Corporation Stock as Ownership Structure Evolves
Unitil Corporation, a leading utilities provider, has recently seen changes in its ownership structure as various institutional investors make adjustments to their positions in the stock. Among them is 1620 Investment Advisors Inc., which purchased a new stake in Unitil during the first quarter of this year, amounting to $214,000. Great Lakes Advisors LLC also made a significant investment in the utilities provider’s stock during the same period, acquiring a stake worth $10,354,000.
Tower Research Capital LLC TRC saw an impressive increase of 7,962.0% in its stake in Unitil during the first quarter. The company now holds 16,124 shares worth approximately $919,000. Another notable institutional investor, Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank, increased its stake by 136.9% and currently owns 2,757 shares valued at $157,000. Lastly, Sigma Planning Corp made a new investment in Unitil with a stake worth $220,000 during the first quarter.
These investments highlight the growing interest from hedge funds and institutional investors in Unitil’s stock. In fact, such entities currently hold an impressive 75.06% of the company’s shares.
As of Thursday’s opening price, Unitil’s stock traded at $48.81 per share. The company boasts a current ratio of 0.68 and a quick ratio of 0.62 – key metrics indicating short-term liquidity levels for businesses. Furthermore, with a debt-to-equity ratio of 1:00 and a beta value of 0.51 (reflecting volatility relative to the market), Unitil appears to have managed its financial structure effectively.
Unitil maintains its position as a significant player within the industry with a market capitalization of $785.35 million and offers appealing returns for investors with its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio standing at 18.08. Additionally, the company’s P/E to growth (P/E/G) ratio of 2.42 suggests potential growth opportunities.
Tracking Unitil’s performance over time, we can observe a fifty-day simple moving average of $50.54 and a two-hundred-day simple moving average of $53.72. These patterns in stock prices hint at trends and provide insights into potential future movements.
Investors interested in Unitil should also consider the company’s recent dividend announcement. Unitil declared a quarterly dividend that was paid on August 28th to shareholders who were recorded as of August 14th. The dividend payout amounted to $0.405 per share, resulting in an annualized dividend of $1.62 and a dividend yield of 3.32%. It is important to note that Unitil currently has a payout ratio of 60%.
In terms of analyst coverage, StockNews.com recently initiated coverage on Unitil with a rating of “hold” for the company.
As we approach September, investors and analysts will closely monitor Unitil’s performance and announcements in order to make informed decisions regarding their investments.