Mariner LLC Increases Position in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL)

Mariner LLC grew its holdings in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL) by 20.4% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,163 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 875 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Unitil were worth $280,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in UTL. Wernau Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Unitil in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $2,673,000. Raymond James Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Unitil in the fourth quarter worth approximately $2,082,000. Barclays PLC increased its stake in Unitil by 139.7% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 32,834 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,989,000 after acquiring an additional 19,134 shares during the last quarter. Dynamic Technology Lab Private Ltd purchased a new stake in Unitil in the fourth quarter valued at $451,000. Finally, ExodusPoint Capital Management LP acquired a new position in shares of Unitil in the 4th quarter valued at $441,000. 76.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Unitil Stock Performance

Shares of UTL stock opened at $59.23 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.83. The firm has a market cap of $962.25 million, a P/E ratio of 20.22 and a beta of 0.67. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $56.95 and its 200-day moving average price is $56.51. Unitil Co. has a one year low of $48.94 and a one year high of $63.52.

Unitil Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 30th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 15th will be given a dividend of $0.45 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 15th. This represents a $1.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.04%. Unitil’s dividend payout ratio is currently 61.43%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, Guggenheim reissued a “neutral” rating and set a $55.00 price objective on shares of Unitil in a research report on Wednesday, February 12th.

Unitil Profile

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations. The company distributes electricity in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and distributes natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area, as well as electricity and natural gas in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts.