What is Zacks Research’s Forecast for AWK FY2024 Earnings?

American Water Works Company, Inc. (NYSE:AWK) – Research analysts at Zacks Research lowered their FY2024 EPS estimates for shares of American Water Works in a report released on Wednesday, November 20th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the utilities provider will post earnings per share of $5.27 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $5.28. The consensus estimate for American Water Works’ current full-year earnings is $5.27 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for American Water Works’ Q2 2026 earnings at $1.53 EPS.

AWK has been the subject of several other research reports. Mizuho cut shares of American Water Works from an “outperform” rating to a “neutral” rating and upped their target price for the company from $131.00 to $140.00 in a research report on Tuesday, October 15th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded American Water Works from an “equal weight” rating to an “underweight” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $127.00 to $138.00 in a report on Wednesday, July 31st. Bank of America restated an “underperform” rating and set a $140.00 target price on shares of American Water Works in a report on Friday, September 20th. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on American Water Works in a research report on Monday, October 7th. They set an “underperform” rating and a $124.00 target price for the company. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an “outperform” rating and issued a $164.00 price target 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 issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $142.29.

American Water Works Trading Down 1.1 %

Shares of NYSE AWK opened at $137.31 on Monday. American Water Works has a fifty-two week low of $113.34 and a fifty-two week high of $150.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $26.76 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.19, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.70. 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’s 50 day simple moving average is $140.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $137.76.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On American Water Works

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AWK. ORG Partners LLC bought a new stake in shares of American Water Works in the second quarter valued at about $30,000. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC lifted its stake in American Water Works by 155.6% in the 3rd quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 299 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $44,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares in the last quarter. Hantz Financial Services Inc. bought a new stake in American Water Works in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $46,000. E Fund Management Hong Kong Co. Ltd. acquired a new position in American Water Works during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $50,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of American Water Works during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $51,000. 86.58% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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 transaction of $101,423.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 36,880 shares in the company, valued at $5,268,308. This trade represents a 1.89 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.08% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

American Water Works Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, December 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, November 12th will be given a dividend of $0.765 per share. This represents a $3.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.23%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, November 12th. American Water Works’s dividend payout ratio is currently 60.59%.

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.