Schroder Investment Management Group Has $17.74 Million Stock Holdings in Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK)

Schroder Investment Management Group decreased its stake in Chesapeake Utilities Co. (NYSE:CPK) by 14.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 147,157 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 24,795 shares during the quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group’s holdings in Chesapeake Utilities were worth $17,743,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Versant Capital Management Inc lifted its stake in Chesapeake Utilities by 2,018.2% during the fourth quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 233 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $28,000 after buying an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new stake in shares of Chesapeake Utilities during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $50,000. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Chesapeake Utilities by 159.9% in the 4th quarter. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC now owns 876 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $106,000 after acquiring an additional 539 shares in the last quarter. KBC Group NV boosted its stake in Chesapeake Utilities by 46.2% in the 4th quarter. KBC Group NV now owns 1,048 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $127,000 after purchasing an additional 331 shares during the period. Finally, Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB purchased a new position in Chesapeake Utilities during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $182,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.11% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, StockNews.com raised Chesapeake Utilities from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating in a research report on Friday, March 7th.

Chesapeake Utilities Stock Performance

Shares of CPK opened at $129.85 on Thursday. Chesapeake Utilities Co. has a 52 week low of $98.32 and a 52 week high of $134.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a current ratio of 0.38. The company has a market capitalization of $2.99 billion, a PE ratio of 26.34 and a beta of 0.60. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $125.19 and its 200 day moving average price is $123.94.

Chesapeake Utilities (NYSE:CPK) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 26th. The utilities provider reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.67 by ($0.04). Chesapeake Utilities had a return on equity of 9.08% and a net margin of 14.16%. The firm had revenue of $215.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $237.84 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.64 earnings per share. Research analysts expect that Chesapeake Utilities Co. will post 5.39 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Chesapeake Utilities Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 7th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.64 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.97%. Chesapeake Utilities’s dividend payout ratio is 48.58%.

Chesapeake Utilities Company Profile

Chesapeake Utilities Corporation operates as an energy delivery company. The company operates through two segments, Regulated Energy and Unregulated Energy. The Regulated Energy segment natural gas distribution operations in central and southern Delaware, Maryland's eastern shore, and Florida; regulated natural gas transmission in the Delmarva Peninsula, Ohio, and Florida; and regulated electric distribution in northeast and northwest Florida.