Avista (NYSE:AVA – Get Free Report) is one of 52 public companies in the “Multi – Utilities” industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its competitors? We will compare Avista to related businesses based on the strength of its analyst recommendations, dividends, risk, institutional ownership, profitability, valuation and earnings.
Profitability
This table compares Avista and its competitors’ net margins, return on equity and return on assets.
| Net Margins | Return on Equity | Return on Assets | |
| Avista | 12.75% | 7.87% | 2.58% |
| Avista Competitors | 9.06% | 14.86% | 4.07% |
Valuation & Earnings
This table compares Avista and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.
| Gross Revenue | Net Income | Price/Earnings Ratio | |
| Avista | $1.94 billion | $193.00 million | 13.43 |
| Avista Competitors | $16.20 billion | $269.64 million | 34.06 |
Avista’s competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Avista. Avista is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its competitors, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.
Analyst Recommendations
This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for Avista and its competitors, as reported by MarketBeat.com.
| Sell Ratings | Hold Ratings | Buy Ratings | Strong Buy Ratings | Rating Score | |
| Avista | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2.00 |
| Avista Competitors | 1054 | 4121 | 4435 | 87 | 2.37 |
Avista currently has a consensus price target of $38.75, suggesting a potential downside of 3.17%. As a group, “Multi – Utilities” companies have a potential upside of 30.02%. Given Avista’s competitors stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Avista has less favorable growth aspects than its competitors.
Institutional & Insider Ownership
85.2% of Avista shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 60.7% of shares of all “Multi – Utilities” companies are owned by institutional investors. 0.8% of Avista shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 10.1% of shares of all “Multi – Utilities” companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, endowments and hedge funds believe a stock is poised for long-term growth.
Dividends
Avista pays an annual dividend of $1.97 per share and has a dividend yield of 4.9%. Avista pays out 66.1% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, “Multi – Utilities” companies pay a dividend yield of 9.3% and pay out 33.6% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. Avista has raised its dividend for 23 consecutive years. Avista lags its competitors as a dividend stock, given its lower dividend yield and higher payout ratio.
Volatility & Risk
Avista has a beta of 0.22, meaning that its share price is 78% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Avista’s competitors have a beta of 0.68, meaning that their average share price is 32% less volatile than the S&P 500.
Summary
Avista competitors beat Avista on 13 of the 15 factors compared.
Avista Company Profile
Avista Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an electric and natural gas utility company. It operates in two segments, Avista Utilities and AEL&P. The Avista Utilities segment provides electric distribution and transmission, and natural gas distribution services in parts of eastern Washington and northern Idaho; and natural gas distribution services in parts of northeastern and southwestern Oregon, as well as generates electricity in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and Montana. This segment also engages in the supply of electricity to customers in Montana; and wholesale purchase and sale of electricity and natural gas. The AEL&P segment offers electric services in Juneau, Alaska. The company generates electricity through hydroelectric, thermal, wind, and solar generation facilities. As of December 31, 2023, it supplied retail electric services to approximately 416,000 customers; and retail natural gas services to approximately 381,000 customers. The company also operates five hydroelectric generation facilities with capacity of 102.7 MW; and four diesel generating facilities with a capacity of 107.5 MW. It also engages in venture fund investments, real estate investments, and other investments. Avista Corporation was incorporated in 1889 and is headquartered in Spokane, Washington.
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