M&G Plc Sells 69,835 Shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

M&G PLC lessened its stake in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK - Free Report) by 9.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 698,397 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 69,835 shares during the period. M&G PLC owned about 0.36% of American Water Works worth $101,966,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the stock. ORG Partners LLC acquired a new stake in American Water Works during the 2nd quarter worth about $30,000. Central Pacific Bank Trust Division purchased a new position in shares of American Water Works during the first quarter valued at $41,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC raised its position in American Water Works by 155.6% during the third quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 299 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $44,000 after buying an additional 182 shares during the period. Hantz Financial Services Inc. purchased a new stake in American Water Works in the 2nd quarter worth about $46,000. Finally, E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new stake in American Water Works during the 2nd quarter worth about $50,000. 86.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an "outperform" rating and issued a $164.00 target price on shares of American Water Works in a report on Thursday, September 19th. Mizuho cut shares of American Water Works from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and boosted their price target for the company from $131.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Bank of America reiterated an "underperform" rating and set a $140.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Friday, September 20th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on American Water Works in a research note on Monday, October 7th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $124.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company lowered American Water Works from an "equal weight" rating to an "underweight" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $127.00 to $138.00 in a research report on Wednesday, July 31st. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $140.00.

American Water Works Stock Down 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE:AWK traded down $0.74 on Thursday, reaching $132.84. The company had a trading volume of 1,249,743 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,199,871. The stock has a market capitalization of $25.89 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.40, a P/E/G ratio of 3.27 and a beta of 0.70. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $142.39 and a 200 day moving average price of $136.79. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a twelve month low of $113.34 and a twelve month high of $150.68. The company has a quick ratio of 0.53, a current ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be issued a dividend of $0.765 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 12th. This represents a $3.06 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.30%. American Water Works's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 60.59%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Martha Clark Goss sold 710 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction on Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.85, for a total value of $101,423.50. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 36,880 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,268,308. This trade represents a 0.00 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Insiders own 0.08% of the company's stock.

American Water Works Company 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.