Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) Shares Bought by Vontobel Holding Ltd.

Vontobel Holding Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Avangrid, Inc. (NYSE:AGR) by 2.8% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 23,875 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 648 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd.’s holdings in Avangrid were worth $774,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. International Assets Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in Avangrid in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,583,000. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in Avangrid by 0.8% in the fourth quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 343,593 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $11,136,000 after acquiring an additional 2,849 shares during the last quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale grew its holdings in Avangrid by 0.8% during the 4th quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 70,196 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $2,264,000 after acquiring an additional 577 shares in the last quarter. SeaCrest Wealth Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Avangrid in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $204,000. Finally, First Pacific Financial raised its holdings in shares of Avangrid by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. First Pacific Financial now owns 13,504 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $438,000 after purchasing an additional 406 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.12% of the company’s stock.

Avangrid Price Performance

Shares of AGR opened at $36.87 on Monday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $34.30 and a 200 day moving average price of $32.44. The stock has a market cap of $14.26 billion, a PE ratio of 18.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.56. Avangrid, Inc. has a 1-year low of $27.46 and a 1-year high of $41.22. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.48, a current ratio of 0.65 and a quick ratio of 0.56.

Avangrid (NYSE:AGR) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.97 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.94 by $0.03. Avangrid had a return on equity of 3.92% and a net margin of 9.46%. The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $0.39 EPS. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Avangrid, Inc. will post 2.23 EPS for the current year.

Avangrid Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 1st. Investors of record on Monday, June 3rd will be given a $0.44 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, May 31st. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.77%. Avangrid’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 86.70%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

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

Avangrid 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.