Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Given Average Recommendation of “Moderate Buy” by Brokerages

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) has received a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven analysts that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and nine have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $69.91.

A number of research analysts have recently commented on XEL shares. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. KeyCorp increased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group raised Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price objective for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st.

Xcel Energy Stock Up 0.3 %

XEL opened at $67.40 on Thursday. Xcel Energy has a fifty-two week low of $46.79 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38. The business has a 50-day moving average of $67.19 and a 200-day moving average of $65.15. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market capitalization of $38.70 billion, a PE ratio of 19.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.43.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.06). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 14.40%. Equities research analysts forecast that Xcel Energy will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 6th were issued a dividend of $0.5475 per share. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 6th. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is presently 63.66%.

Institutional Trading of Xcel Energy

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Fairway Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Finally, Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Company Profile

Xcel Energy Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, purchasing, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility, and All Other segments. The company generates electricity through wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar energy sources, as well as coal, natural gas, oil, wood, and refuse-derived fuels.