First Pacific Financial Increases Stock Position in Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR)

First Pacific Financial boosted its stake in Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) by 3.1% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 13,504 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after acquiring an additional 406 shares during the period. First Pacific Financial’s holdings in Avangrid were worth $438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC increased its stake in Avangrid by 4.7% in the second quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 4,787 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $221,000 after purchasing an additional 215 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in Avangrid by 1.9% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 15,024 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $702,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the period. Pathstone Family Office LLC increased its stake in Avangrid by 2.0% in the fourth quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 16,441 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $713,000 after purchasing an additional 321 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in Avangrid by 4.8% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 7,067 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $282,000 after purchasing an additional 322 shares during the period. Finally, Citigroup Inc. increased its stake in Avangrid by 3.5% in the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 9,791 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $295,000 after purchasing an additional 334 shares during the period. 13.12% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Avangrid Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE AGR opened at $36.20 on Thursday. Avangrid, Inc. has a 12-month low of $27.46 and a 12-month high of $41.22. The company has a market capitalization of $14.00 billion, a PE ratio of 17.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.65 and a beta of 0.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.56. The firm’s 50-day moving average is $32.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $31.97.

Avangrid (NYSE:AGR) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.94 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. Avangrid had a net margin of 9.46% and a return on equity of 3.92%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.39 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Avangrid, Inc. will post 2.25 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Avangrid Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be given a $0.44 dividend. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Avangrid’s payout ratio is currently 86.70%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on AGR shares. Mizuho boosted their price target on shares of Avangrid from $33.00 to $34.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of Avangrid from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Avangrid from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott reiterated a “sell” rating and set a $35.00 price target on shares of Avangrid in a research note on Friday, March 8th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and four have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $34.75.

Avangrid Company Profile

Avangrid, Inc, an energy services holding company, engages in the regulated energy transmission and distribution, and renewable energy generation businesses in the United States. The company operates through Networks and Renewables segments. It is involved in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity; and distribution, transportation, and sale of natural gas.