Copeland Capital Management LLC Trims Holdings in Chesapeake Utilities Corporation $CPK

Copeland Capital Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE:CPK) by 5.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 505,041 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 26,340 shares during the period. Chesapeake Utilities accounts for about 1.4% of Copeland Capital Management LLC’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Copeland Capital Management LLC owned about 2.15% of Chesapeake Utilities worth $68,024,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Boston Trust Walden Corp lifted its stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 13.3% during the third quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 323,761 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $43,607,000 after buying an additional 38,071 shares during the period. CWM LLC grew its position in Chesapeake Utilities by 17.3% during the third quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,058 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $143,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. Spirit of America Management Corp NY grew its holdings in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. Spirit of America Management Corp NY now owns 4,000 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $539,000 after purchasing an additional 200 shares during the period. Albert D Mason Inc. increased its position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 6.2% in the third quarter. Albert D Mason Inc. now owns 12,205 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $1,644,000 after acquiring an additional 717 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IFM Investors Pty Ltd acquired a new stake in Chesapeake Utilities in the 3rd quarter valued at $217,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.11% of the company’s stock.

Chesapeake Utilities Trading Up 0.2%

Shares of CPK stock opened at $126.19 on Tuesday. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation has a 1 year low of $115.12 and a 1 year high of $140.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $2.98 billion, a PE ratio of 22.33 and a beta of 0.79. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $131.26 and a two-hundred day moving average of $127.54. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.62.

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.82 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.90 by ($0.08). The business had revenue of $179.60 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $167.30 million. Chesapeake Utilities had a net margin of 14.77% and a return on equity of 9.03%. Chesapeake Utilities’s revenue for the quarter was up 12.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.80 earnings per share. Chesapeake Utilities has set its FY 2025 guidance at 6.150-6.350 EPS. As a group, research analysts expect that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation will post 5.39 EPS for the current year.

Chesapeake Utilities Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 5th. Stockholders of record on Monday, December 15th will be paid a $0.685 dividend. This represents a $2.74 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, December 15th. Chesapeake Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is currently 48.50%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have issued reports on CPK shares. Barclays set a $141.00 price objective on shares of Chesapeake Utilities and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, October 28th. Wall Street Zen upgraded Chesapeake Utilities from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 13th. BTIG Research initiated coverage on shares of Chesapeake Utilities in a research note on Tuesday, October 21st. They set a “neutral” rating for the company. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Chesapeake Utilities in a report on Monday, December 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Chesapeake Utilities currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $141.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CEO Jeffry M. Householder sold 1,908 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $125.83, for a total value of $240,083.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 51,916 shares in the company, valued at $6,532,590.28. This trade represents a 3.54% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, COO Jeffery S. Sylvester sold 1,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, November 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.08, for a total transaction of $137,080.00. Following the transaction, the chief operating officer owned 11,916 shares in the company, valued at $1,633,445.28. This represents a 7.74% decrease in their position. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 18,500 shares of company stock valued at $2,355,265. Company insiders own 1.51% of the company’s stock.

Chesapeake Utilities Company Profile

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) is a diversified energy services holding company headquartered in Dover, Delaware. Through its operating subsidiaries, the company engages in natural gas distribution, transmission and storage; propane distribution; wholesale propane supply; and contract compression and natural gas liquids processing. Its core mission is to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective energy solutions to residential, commercial and industrial customers across multiple U.S.