Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Boosts Stock Position in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK)

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans raised its position in American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK - Free Report) by 18.8% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 121,574 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 19,244 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans owned about 0.06% of American Water Works worth $17,779,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Impax Asset Management Group plc lifted its position in shares of American Water Works by 3.7% during the 2nd quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 6,902,257 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $890,422,000 after buying an additional 247,745 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in American Water Works by 6.8% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,245,306 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $328,354,000 after purchasing an additional 143,914 shares in the last quarter. Mirova US LLC grew its position in shares of American Water Works by 2.1% in the second quarter. Mirova US LLC now owns 1,588,109 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $205,120,000 after purchasing an additional 32,764 shares during the period. Wulff Hansen & CO. increased its stake in shares of American Water Works by 12,816.0% during the second quarter. Wulff Hansen & CO. now owns 1,464,674 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $189,177,000 after purchasing an additional 1,453,334 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its position in shares of American Water Works by 1,131.1% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,438,137 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $210,313,000 after purchasing an additional 1,321,320 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.58% of the company's stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Martha Clark Goss sold 710 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, September 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $142.85, for a total value of $101,423.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 36,880 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,268,308. The trade was a 1.89 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Ratings Changes

AWK has been the topic of several research analyst reports. UBS Group upgraded American Water Works from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $151.00 to $155.00 in a report on Tuesday. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on American Water Works in a research report on Monday, October 7th. They set an "underperform" rating and a $124.00 price target for the company. Bank of America restated an "underperform" rating and issued a $140.00 price objective on shares of American Water Works in a report on Friday, September 20th. Mizuho lowered shares of American Water Works from an "outperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their target price for the stock from $131.00 to $140.00 in a report on Tuesday, October 15th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an "outperform" rating and issued a $164.00 price target on shares of American Water Works in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $142.29.

American Water Works Price Performance

Shares of AWK stock opened at $137.89 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a current ratio of 0.58 and a quick ratio of 0.53. The company has a market capitalization of $26.87 billion, a PE ratio of 27.31, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.70. The firm's 50-day moving average is $140.43 and its two-hundred day moving average is $137.63. American Water Works Company, Inc. has a 12 month low of $113.34 and a 12 month high of $150.68.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Investors of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be issued a $0.765 dividend. This represents a $3.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, November 12th. American Water Works's dividend payout ratio is presently 60.59%.

American Water Works 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.