Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) Stock Price Up 2.1% - Time to Buy?

Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK - Get Free Report)'s stock price was up 2.1% during trading on Friday . The company traded as high as $128.44 and last traded at $128.27. Approximately 25,076 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 74% from the average daily volume of 96,009 shares. The stock had previously closed at $125.62.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com raised shares of Chesapeake Utilities from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Friday, March 7th.

Chesapeake Utilities Price Performance

The company has a current ratio of 0.38, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $2.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.29 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a 50 day moving average of $125.01 and a 200 day moving average of $123.90.

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.67 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $215.00 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $237.84 million. Chesapeake Utilities had a net margin of 14.16% and a return on equity of 9.08%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.64 earnings per share. Equities research analysts predict that Chesapeake Utilities Co. will post 5.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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Chesapeake Utilities Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 7th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.98%. Chesapeake Utilities's payout ratio is 48.58%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its holdings in Chesapeake Utilities by 2.4% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 1,934,574 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $234,761,000 after purchasing an additional 44,692 shares during the period. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 0.9% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,222,149 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $152,513,000 after acquiring an additional 11,068 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 516,586 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $64,157,000 after acquiring an additional 8,358 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC raised its stake in Chesapeake Utilities by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 495,178 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $60,090,000 after acquiring an additional 12,889 shares during the period. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Chesapeake Utilities by 3.0% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 464,679 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $56,389,000 after purchasing an additional 13,742 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 83.11% of the company's stock.

About Chesapeake Utilities

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida.