Hawaii 2019 aquaculture sales totaled $83.2 million, up 9 percent from 2017, according to USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service. Algae contributed $32.7 million and accounted for 39 percent of the total sales, down 7 percent from 2017. Ornamentals accounted for $2.64 million of total sales. The “Other” category comprised the remaining 58 percent of total sales at $47.9 million. The decrease in sales for Algae was more than offset by the increase in “Other”. The peak number of hired workers on the payroll was 369 for 2019, as reported by the producers.
Job Opportunity Announcement: Forestry Technician, GS-0462-06, HAVO & CRLA
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park has permanent and full time position available for a Forestry Technician. The position is with the Wildland Fire and Aviation Division at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawai’i. The deadline to apply is October 14, 2020. Apply at USAjobs.gov.
Serves as a senior wildland firefighter on a wildland engine, handcrew or prescribed fire crew. Performs the duties of a fully qualified chain saw operator and chainsaw repair technician. Performs all aspects of wildland and prescribed fire operations including preparation, ignition, monitoring, holding, and mop-up. Collects fire weather data, fuel and/or soil moisture samples, maps projects, and maintains records. May on occasion serve as driver for a crew carrier or a Type 6 engine.
Accepting applications from: 1) Current & former Federal employees with status, or reinstatement eligible; 2)Current or former time-limited employees of a land management agency eligible for permanent positions under the Land Management Workforce Flexibility Act; 3)CTAP & ICTAP eligible and 4)Veterans eligible under the VRA authority, or who are 30% or more disabled.
Bank of Hawaii Co. (NYSE:BOH) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Analysts
Shares of Bank of Hawaii Co. (NYSE:BOH) have been given an average rating of “Hold” by the six ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $70.67.
BOH has been the topic of several research analyst reports. ValuEngine downgraded Bank of Hawaii from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a research note on Monday, August 3rd. Zacks Investment Research raised Bank of Hawaii from a “sell” rating to a “hold” rating and set a $60.00 price objective for the company in a report on Friday, July 31st.
In other Bank of Hawaii news, Director John C. Erickson purchased 1,000 shares of Bank of Hawaii stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, September 10th. The stock was bought at an average price of $51.96 per share, with a total value of $51,960.00. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 5,450 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $283,182. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Director Victor K. Nichols purchased 4,475 shares of Bank of Hawaii stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, August 21st. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $55.66 per share, with a total value of $249,078.50. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 10,055 shares in the company, valued at approximately $559,661.30. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders own 2.14% of the company’s stock.
A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Two Sigma Advisers LP raised its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 9.7% in the 2nd quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP now owns 40,900 shares of the bank’s stock worth $2,512,000 after purchasing an additional 3,600 shares during the period. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Bank of Hawaii in the 2nd quarter worth about $386,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC raised its holdings in Bank of Hawaii by 12.7% in the 2nd quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 2,621,961 shares of the bank’s stock worth $160,818,000 after purchasing an additional 294,909 shares during the period. Handelsbanken Fonder AB purchased a new stake in Bank of Hawaii during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $592,000. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Bank of Hawaii by 26.7% during the 2nd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 551,947 shares of the bank’s stock worth $33,896,000 after buying an additional 116,344 shares in the last quarter. 74.03% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Shares of BOH stock opened at $49.90 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $54.60 and its 200 day moving average price is $58.79. The company has a market cap of $2.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.68 and a beta of 1.19. Bank of Hawaii has a 1-year low of $46.70 and a 1-year high of $95.68.
Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Monday, July 27th. The bank reported $0.98 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the Thomson Reuters’ consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $177.96 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $167.62 million. Bank of Hawaii had a return on equity of 13.98% and a net margin of 23.91%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.40 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of Hawaii will post 3.7 earnings per share for the current year.
The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, September 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, August 31st were issued a $0.67 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, August 28th. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.37%. Bank of Hawaii’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.20%.
Bank of Hawaii Company Profile
Bank of Hawaii Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hawaii that provides financial products and services in Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Islands. It operates through four segments: Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Investment Services and Private Banking, and Treasury and Other.
American Assets Trust (NYSE:AAT) Rating Lowered to Sell at Zacks Investment Research
American Assets Trust (NYSE:AAT) was downgraded by Zacks Investment Research from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Zacks.com reports.
According to Zacks, “American Assets, Inc. is a real estate investment trust, or REIT, that owns, operates, acquires and develops retail and office properties primarily in Southern California, Northern California and Hawaii. The trusts assets include retail properties, office properties, Waikiki Beach Walk property and multifamily properties. American Assets, Inc. is based in San Diego, California. ”
Several other brokerages have also commented on AAT. ValuEngine lowered American Assets Trust from a “hold” rating to a “sell” rating in a report on Tuesday, August 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on American Assets Trust from $30.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, June 4th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. The stock has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average price target of $39.50.
American Assets Trust stock traded down $0.57 during midday trading on Tuesday, hitting $23.91. 9,320 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 379,620. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.47 billion, a PE ratio of 31.05, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.73 and a beta of 0.88. American Assets Trust has a fifty-two week low of $20.15 and a fifty-two week high of $49.26. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $25.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $26.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 3.45 and a current ratio of 3.45.
American Assets Trust (NYSE:AAT) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.13 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.37 by ($0.24). American Assets Trust had a net margin of 12.08% and a return on equity of 3.53%. The business had revenue of $82.11 million during the quarter. As a group, equities analysts expect that American Assets Trust will post 1.98 earnings per share for the current year.
In related news, CEO Ernest S. Rady acquired 20,000 shares of American Assets Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, September 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $24.69 per share, for a total transaction of $493,800.00. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, CEO Ernest S. Rady acquired 25,412 shares of American Assets Trust stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, September 14th. The shares were bought at an average price of $25.32 per share, for a total transaction of $643,431.84. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders have purchased 56,317 shares of company stock worth $1,410,574. 32.76% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.
A number of institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in AAT. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in American Assets Trust by 0.9% in the second quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 7,926,096 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $220,664,000 after purchasing an additional 72,683 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. raised its position in American Assets Trust by 36.2% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 2,732,288 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $68,307,000 after purchasing an additional 726,740 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in American Assets Trust by 6.9% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,591,919 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $64,798,000 after purchasing an additional 167,372 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its position in American Assets Trust by 366.1% in the second quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,698,504 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $47,287,000 after purchasing an additional 1,334,111 shares during the period. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. raised its position in American Assets Trust by 7.6% in the second quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 1,330,379 shares of the real estate investment trust’s stock valued at $37,038,000 after purchasing an additional 93,670 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.34% of the company’s stock.
About American Assets Trust
American Assets Trust, Inc (the company) is a full service, vertically integrated and self-administered real estate investment trust, or REIT, headquartered in San Diego, California. The company has over 50 years of experience in acquiring, improving, developing and managing premier retail, office and residential properties throughout the United States in some of the nation’s most dynamic, high-barrier-to-entry markets primarily in Southern California, Northern California, Oregon, Washington, Texas and Hawaii.
USDA announces second round of funding for feral swine program
National Hog Farmer
USDA
The 2018 Farm Bill created the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program and is a joint effort between NRCS and APHIS.
The USDA is accepting applications from non-federal, not-for-profit partners for projects to help agricultural producers and private landowners trap and control feral swine, which is part of the Feral Swine Eradication and Control Pilot Program. USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service is making $12 million available and will accept applications through Nov. 5, in eight priority states during its second round of project funding.
FSCP is a joint effort between NRCS and USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service. The second round of funding is for partners to carry out activities as part of the identified pilot projects in select areas of Alabama, Hawaii, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
“The 2018 Farm Bill created this new pilot program to enable us to address threats to natural resources and agriculture posed by feral swine,” says Kevin Norton, NRCS acting chief. “This second investment will play a crucial role in getting landowners assistance they need.”
These new pilot projects and areas were selected in coordination with NRCS state conservationists, APHIS state directors and state technical committees to address feral swine issues and damage in areas with high densities.
Pilot projects consist broadly of three coordinated components: 1) feral swine removal by APHIS; 2) restoration efforts supported by NRCS; and 3) assistance to producers for feral swine control provided through partnership agreements with non-federal partners. Projects can be one to three years in duration and are planned to conclude at the end of fiscal year 2023 (Sept. 30, 2023).
The program was first announced in June 2019, and in the first round of funding, NRCS allocated almost $17 million for 20 projects across 10 states. Those projects will continue through the life of the 2018 Farm Bill in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Texas.
Aloun Farms Pumpkin Festival
CANCELLED: PUMPKIN FESTIVAL & EDUCATIONAL TOURS 2020
Thank you for your understanding in having to cancel our 2020 pumpkin festival and educational tours this year due to the ongoing pandemic. if you would like to order our pumpkins online, click here or visit your local grocery store. mahalo!