Vanguard Trims Unitil Stake to 9.8% as of Dec 29, 2023

TL;DR

**Vanguard cut its Unitil stake to 9.8%, a slight dip in institutional confidence.**

AI Summary

The Vanguard Group, a major investment firm, filed an amended SC 13G/A on February 13, 2024, disclosing its ownership of 1,616,122 shares of Unitil Corp (UTL) common stock as of December 29, 2023. This represents a 9.8% beneficial ownership stake, a slight decrease from its previous filing. This matters to investors because Vanguard is a significant institutional holder, and changes in its position can signal shifts in its confidence in Unitil's future performance, potentially influencing other investors.

Why It Matters

This filing shows that a major institutional investor, The Vanguard Group, has slightly reduced its stake in Unitil Corp, which could be interpreted as a minor decrease in their conviction for the stock.

Risk Assessment

Risk Level: low — The change in ownership is minor and from a passive investor, indicating a low immediate risk to the stock's fundamentals.

Analyst Insight

A smart investor would note Vanguard's slight reduction in stake but recognize it's a minor adjustment by a passive fund, not necessarily a strong bearish signal. Further research into Unitil's fundamentals and other institutional activity would be prudent before making investment decisions.

Key Numbers

• 1,616,122 — Shares Beneficially Owned (Represents the total number of Unitil Corp common shares Vanguard holds.)
• 9.8% — Percentage of Class (Indicates Vanguard's significant, though slightly reduced, ownership stake in Unitil Corp.)
• 16,122 — Shared Voting Power (The number of shares over which Vanguard has shared voting power.)
• 0 — Sole Voting Power (Vanguard holds no shares with sole voting power, indicating a passive investment strategy.)
• February 13, 2024 — Filing Date (The date the amended SC 13G/A was filed with the SEC.)

Key Players & Entities

• The Vanguard Group (company) — reporting person and institutional investor
• Unitil Corp (company) — subject company whose shares are being reported
• 1,616,122 (dollar_amount) — total shares beneficially owned by Vanguard
• 9.8% (dollar_amount) — percentage of Unitil Corp's common stock owned by Vanguard
• December 29, 2023 (date) — date of the event requiring the filing

Forward-Looking Statements

• Vanguard will maintain a significant, but passive, stake in Unitil Corp. (The Vanguard Group) — high confidence, target: December 31, 2024
• Unitil Corp's stock price will not experience significant volatility solely due to this minor change in Vanguard's position. (Unitil Corp) — high confidence, target: March 31, 2024

FAQ

Filing Documents

• tv0136-unitilcorp.htm (SC 13G/A) — 11KB
• 0001104659-24-020128.txt ( ) — 13KB

(a) - Name of Issuer

Item 1(a) - Name of Issuer: Unitil Corp

(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices

Item 1(b) - Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 6 Liberty Lane West Hampton, NH 03842-1720

(a) - Name of Person Filing

Item 2(a) - Name of Person Filing: The Vanguard Group - 23-1945930

(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence

Item 2(b) – Address of Principal Business Office or, if none, residence: 100 Vanguard Blvd. Malvern, PA 19355

(c) – Citizenship

Item 2(c) – Citizenship: Pennsylvania

(d) - Title of Class of Securities

Item 2(d) - Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock

(e) - CUSIP Number

Item 2(e) - CUSIP Number 913259107

- Type of Filing

Item 3 - Type of Filing: This statement is being filed pursuant to Rule 13d-1. An investment adviser in accordance with 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).

- Ownership

Item 4 - Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: (b) Percent of Class: (c) Number of shares as to which such person has: (i) sole power to vote or direct to vote: (ii) shared power to vote or direct to vote: (iii) sole power to dispose of or to direct the disposition of: (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: Comments: The responses to questions 5 through 9 and 11 on the cover page(s) are incorporated by reference into this Item 4.

- Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class

Item 5 - Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class: If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than 5 percent of the class of securities, check the following

- Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person

Item 6 - Ownership of More Than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person: The Vanguard Group, Inc.'s clients, including investment companies registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940 and other managed accounts, have the right to receive or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or the proceeds from the sale of, the securities reported herein. No one other person's interest in the securities reported herein is more than 5%. Item 7 - Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired The Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company: Not applicable

- Identification and Classification of Members of Group

Item 8 - Identification and Classification of Members of Group: Not applicable

- Notice of Dissolution of Group

Item 9 - Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable

- Certification

Item 10 - Certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect, other than activities solely in connection with a nomination under 240.14a-11. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: February 13, 2024 By /s/ Ashley Grim Name: Ashley Grim Title: Head of Global Fund Administration

View Full Filing

View this SC 13G/A filing on SEC EDGAR