Geode Capital Management LLC Boosts Stock Position in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Geode Capital Management LLC raised its position in shares of American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK - Free Report) by 1.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 4,564,193 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 43,754 shares during the quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC owned 2.34% of American Water Works worth $665,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in AWK. AQR Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of American Water Works by 21.6% in the second quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 31,283 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,023,000 after acquiring an additional 5,564 shares during the period. Swedbank AB raised its position in shares of American Water Works by 65.5% during the 3rd quarter. Swedbank AB now owns 106,383 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $15,557,000 after purchasing an additional 42,094 shares during the period. Boston Trust Walden Corp raised its holdings in American Water Works by 350.4% during the second quarter. Boston Trust Walden Corp now owns 10,360 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,338,000 after acquiring an additional 8,060 shares during the period. MBB Public Markets I LLC bought a new position in American Water Works in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,610,000. Finally, Pathstone Holdings LLC increased its holdings in American Water Works by 11.3% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 48,618 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $7,110,000 after acquiring an additional 4,944 shares during the last quarter. 86.58% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

American Water Works Stock Up 0.2 %

NYSE:AWK traded up $0.23 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $130.57. 739,244 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,206,237. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.58. The company has a market capitalization of $25.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.96, a P/E/G ratio of 3.08 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a fifty day moving average of $136.81 and a 200 day moving average of $137.84. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a twelve month low of $113.34 and a twelve month high of $150.68.

American Water Works Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 4th. Investors of record on Friday, February 7th will be given a $0.765 dividend. This represents a $3.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.34%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 7th. American Water Works's payout ratio is currently 60.59%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have commented on the stock. Mizuho cut shares of American Water Works from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $131.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 15th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of American Water Works in a report on Monday, October 7th. They issued an "underperform" rating and a $124.00 price target on the stock. UBS Group upgraded American Water Works from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $151.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 19th. Wolfe Research upgraded shares of American Water Works to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an "outperform" rating and set a $164.00 target price on shares of American Water Works in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat, American Water Works presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $142.29.

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.