Avista (NYSE:AVA – Get Free Report) issued an update on its FY 2026 earnings guidance on Monday. The company provided earnings per share (EPS) guidance of 2.520-2.720 for the period, compared to the consensus earnings per share estimate of 2.600. The company issued revenue guidance of -.
Analysts Set New Price Targets
A number of equities research analysts have recently weighed in on AVA shares. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Avista from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Monday, July 6th. Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Avista from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a report on Saturday, April 18th. Zacks Research raised Avista from a “strong sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, May 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $39.00 target price on Avista in a research report on Tuesday, April 21st. Finally, Weiss Ratings upgraded Avista from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Thursday, July 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a Buy rating and six have assigned a Hold rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Avista has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $40.00.
Check Out Our Latest Report on AVA
Avista Stock Down 2.1%
Avista (NYSE:AVA – Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, July 31st. The utilities provider reported $0.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.23 by $0.20. Avista had a return on equity of 7.65% and a net margin of 10.75%.The business had revenue of $413.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $426.93 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $0.17 earnings per share. The firm’s quarterly revenue was up .5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Avista will post 2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.
Avista Announces Dividend
The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, June 12th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 19th were paid a dividend of $0.4925 per share. This represents a $1.97 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.0%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, May 19th. Avista’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.49%.
Insider Activity
In other news, SVP Wayne O. Manuel sold 1,593 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, May 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.98, for a total transaction of $65,281.14. Following the sale, the senior vice president owned 10,521 shares in the company, valued at $431,150.58. This represents a 13.15% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.78% of the company’s stock.
Avista News Summary
Here are the key news stories impacting Avista this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Avista reported second-quarter GAAP net income of $35 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, up from $14 million and $0.17 a year earlier. Earnings exceeded the $0.23 analyst consensus, while first-half net income rose to $127 million from $93 million. Avista Q2 2026 Financial Results
- Positive Sentiment: Management reaffirmed 2026 non-GAAP utility earnings guidance of $2.52 to $2.72 per share. The midpoint is modestly above the $2.60 consensus estimate, and management cited disciplined cost control, rate-case benefits and operational execution. Avista Reports Second Quarter Results
- Neutral Sentiment: Underlying utility earnings per share were unchanged at $0.29 for the quarter, although first-half utility earnings increased to $1.38 from $1.30. Reported GAAP gains were helped substantially by a recovery in non-regulated investment performance, which may be volatile and is excluded from utility earnings.
- Neutral Sentiment: Avista expects $615 million of 2026 utility capital expenditures and may issue up to $90 million of common stock and $230 million of long-term debt. It is also evaluating as much as $100 million of additional short-term liquidity because of regulatory deferrals and delayed cost recovery.
- Negative Sentiment: Quarterly revenue of $413 million fell short of the $426.9 million consensus estimate. Year-to-date electric and natural-gas revenues declined, reflecting lower wholesale activity, reduced volumes and the departure of a large industrial customer; operating expenses also increased.
- Negative Sentiment: Wildfires in the Spokane, Washington, area reportedly caused extensive damage to Avista’s power grid and service disruptions. Potential repair costs, outages, liability exposure and uncertainty over insurance or regulatory recovery add a significant near-term overhang. Avista Reports Extensive Wildfire Damage
Institutional Inflows and Outflows
Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Lido Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Avista by 3.3% during the fourth quarter. Lido Advisors LLC now owns 7,941 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $302,000 after purchasing an additional 251 shares in the last quarter. UMB Bank n.a. raised its position in Avista by 90.7% in the 4th quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 637 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 303 shares during the last quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. lifted its stake in Avista by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Coldstream Capital Management Inc. now owns 62,492 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,363,000 after acquiring an additional 339 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System boosted its holdings in shares of Avista by 0.5% during the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 78,714 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,987,000 after acquiring an additional 379 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Kestra Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Avista by 4.0% in the fourth quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 15,797 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $609,000 after acquiring an additional 605 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.24% of the company’s stock.
Avista Company Profile
Avista Corporation operates as an integrated energy company providing electric and natural gas delivery services to residential, commercial and industrial customers in the Pacific Northwest. Through its regulated utility operations, the company maintains and upgrades an extensive transmission and distribution network, delivering reliable energy to approximately 400,000 electric customers and 324,000 natural gas customers across Washington, Oregon and Idaho. In addition to its core utility business, Avista invests in owned generation assets, including hydroelectric, natural gas–fired, coal and wind facilities, to support system reliability and long-term supply planning.
Founded in 1889 as the Spokane and Inland Empire Water Power Company, the business adopted the Avista name in 1999 to reflect its growing energy portfolio and strategic focus on innovation.
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