Inspire Investing LLC Invests $725,000 in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL)

Inspire Investing LLC bought a new stake in Unitil Co. (NYSE:UTL - Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 11,974 shares of the utilities provider's stock, valued at approximately $725,000. Inspire Investing LLC owned approximately 0.07% of Unitil as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Creative Planning increased its position in shares of Unitil by 3.3% in the second quarter. Creative Planning now owns 6,758 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $350,000 after acquiring an additional 218 shares during the last quarter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Unitil by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Anchor Capital Advisors LLC now owns 25,615 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,341,000 after purchasing an additional 301 shares in the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Unitil by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 20,419 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $1,058,000 after buying an additional 319 shares during the last quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System boosted its holdings in shares of Unitil by 1.9% in the 1st quarter. Maryland State Retirement & Pension System now owns 19,555 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $954,000 after buying an additional 365 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth Equity Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Unitil by 5.0% in the first quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 12,088 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $633,000 after buying an additional 581 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 76.76% of the company's stock.

Unitil Stock Performance

NYSE UTL traded up $0.44 on Tuesday, hitting $59.22. 38,638 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 57,266. The company has a market capitalization of $957.47 million, a PE ratio of 19.74 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The business's fifty day moving average is $59.29 and its 200 day moving average is $55.15. Unitil Co. has a 52 week low of $44.71 and a 52 week high of $63.52.

Unitil (NYSE:UTL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, August 6th. The utilities provider reported $0.27 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $95.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $94.00 million. Unitil had a net margin of 9.53% and a return on equity of 9.74%. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.25 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that Unitil Co. will post 2.92 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Unitil Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, August 29th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, August 15th were paid a dividend of $0.425 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, August 15th. This represents a $1.70 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.87%. Unitil's dividend payout ratio is currently 56.67%.

Unitil Company Profile

Unitil Corporation, a public utility holding company, engages in the distribution of electricity and natural gas. It operates through two segments, Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations. The company distributes electricity in the southeastern seacoast and state capital regions of New Hampshire, and the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts; and distributes natural gas in southeastern New Hampshire and portions of southern and central Maine, including the city of Portland and the Lewiston-Auburn area, as well as electricity and natural gas in the greater Fitchburg area of north central Massachusetts.