Bremer Bank National Association Trims Position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Bremer Bank National Association cut its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 28.4% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,306 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,712 shares during the quarter. Bremer Bank National Association’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $291,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $43,000. Finally, First Financial Corp IN purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $46,000. 78.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of XEL stock opened at $66.72 on Monday. The stock has a market cap of $38.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.80, a PEG ratio of 2.40 and a beta of 0.42. Xcel Energy Inc. has a twelve month low of $46.79 and a twelve month high of $73.38. The company’s 50-day moving average price is $68.41 and its 200-day moving average price is $63.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.26 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $3.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.93 billion. Xcel Energy had a net margin of 13.67% and a return on equity of 10.76%. The firm’s quarterly revenue was down .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.23 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 6th will be paid a dividend of $0.5475 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, January 6th. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.28%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 64.99%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have recently weighed in on XEL. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company raised shares of Xcel Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $70.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, January 13th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their price target for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Barclays lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $67.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $69.67.

About Xcel Energy

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.