Securian Asset Management Inc. Trims Stock Holdings in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Securian Asset Management Inc. trimmed its holdings in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) by 2.7% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,392 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 293 shares during the period. Securian Asset Management Inc.’s holdings in American Water Works were worth $1,294,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of AWK. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Providence First Trust Co purchased a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $27,000. Whipplewood Advisors LLC purchased a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $28,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its stake in American Water Works by 54.2% in the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 293 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 103 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Stonebridge Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in American Water Works in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $48,000. 86.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Water Works Stock Performance

NYSE AWK opened at $144.43 on Friday. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 52-week low of $113.34 and a 52-week high of $152.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.35 and a current ratio of 0.39. The company has a market capitalization of $28.16 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.80, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.69. The company has a fifty day moving average of $129.24 and a 200-day moving average of $134.54.

American Water Works (NYSE:AWK) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 19th. The utilities provider reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.13 by $0.09. American Water Works had a net margin of 22.44% and a return on equity of 10.29%. The company had revenue of $1.20 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. As a group, equities research analysts predict that American Water Works Company, Inc. will post 5.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have commented on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of American Water Works from $133.00 to $142.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com raised shares of American Water Works from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday. UBS Group raised shares of American Water Works from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and raised their price target for the company from $151.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on shares of American Water Works from $147.00 to $128.00 and set a “neutral” rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $141.86.

American Water Works Profile

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.