10 Dividend Stocks Grow Firmer Despite Mixed Market Sentiment

4. Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA)

Dividend yield: 5.07%

Dividend payout ratio: 74.51%

Ex-Dividend Date: February 26, 2025

Number of Hedge Funds: 27

Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) recorded a 4.3% increase in stock value, rising from $38.25 to $39.91 within three days.

The American energy company announced the fourth quarter earnings per share of $0.84. It fell short of the $0.89 consensus estimate. However, the value of Avista Corporation continued to rise in the last three days after the company’s projections for 2025. Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) initiated the 2025 earnings guidance of $2.52 to $2.72 per share. It was over the analyst projections of $2.52 per share. The president and CEO of the company, Heather Rosentrater, further said,

“I’m proud of our performance in 2024. Our utility operations led continued improvement in our consolidated earnings, even with the headwinds we experienced from higher power supply and operating costs during the year.”

Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) also achieved 2024 regulatory gains in Washington, anticipating continued progress in Oregon and Idaho rate cases throughout 2025. This created a positive outlook for the company among the investors, as demonstrated by the 4.3% increase in stock value.

With a dividend yield of 5.07% and a payout ratio of 74.51%, Avista Corporation (NYSE:AVA) retains sufficient capital for operations after paying dividends to its stockholders. The stock is included in 27 hedge fund portfolios of our Insider Monkey’s Q4 2024 database, implying notable institutional confidence. Interested investors can receive dividends on March 14, 2025, by purchasing shares before the ex-dividend date on February 26, 2025.