Avista (NYSE:AVA) Share Price Crosses Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average – Should You Sell?

Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA)’s share price crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Thursday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $38.14 and traded as high as $39.58. Avista shares last traded at $39.18, with a volume of 464,255 shares changing hands.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on AVA shares. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on Avista from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised Avista to a “hold” rating in a research note on Tuesday, October 28th. Mizuho set a $42.00 price target on Avista in a report on Thursday, November 6th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reissued a “hold (c+)” rating on shares of Avista in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Hold rating, According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $40.33.

Avista Stock Performance

The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $39.52 and a 200 day moving average price of $38.14. The company has a current ratio of 0.91, a quick ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.06. The firm has a market cap of $3.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.00 and a beta of 0.30.

Avista (NYSE:AVA) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, November 5th. The utilities provider reported $0.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.27 by $0.09. Avista had a return on equity of 7.18% and a net margin of 9.62%.The company’s quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.23 earnings per share. Avista has set its FY 2025 guidance at 2.520-2.720 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Avista Corporation will post 2.3 earnings per share for the current year.

Avista Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, December 15th. Investors of record on Monday, November 24th were issued a dividend of $0.49 per share. This represents a $1.96 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, November 24th. Avista’s dividend payout ratio is currently 83.40%.

Insider Transactions at Avista

In related news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,785 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.74, for a total value of $69,150.90. Following the transaction, the senior vice president directly owned 9,883 shares in the company, valued at approximately $382,867.42. This trade represents a 15.30% decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.96% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Avista

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of AVA. Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in shares of Avista in the third quarter worth about $26,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in Avista in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Bessemer Group Inc. grew its holdings in Avista by 54.8% in the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 884 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 313 shares during the last quarter. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new position in Avista in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $37,000. Finally, Aquatic Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Avista during the third quarter worth approximately $43,000. 85.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Avista Company Profile

Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.

Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.