Short Interest in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT) Declines By 14.8%

Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,370,000 shares, a drop of 14.8% from the March 31st total of 5,130,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,970,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.2 days.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CEO Lisa M. Barton bought 1,100 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $48.56 per share, with a total value of $53,416.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 36,444 shares in the company, valued at $1,769,720.64. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Trading of Alliant Energy

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. NBC Securities Inc. bought a new stake in Alliant Energy in the third quarter worth $2,977,000. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in Alliant Energy by 9.5% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 33,941 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,644,000 after purchasing an additional 2,947 shares during the last quarter. Duality Advisers LP bought a new stake in Alliant Energy in the fourth quarter worth $2,656,000. Everence Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Alliant Energy by 239.1% during the fourth quarter. Everence Capital Management Inc. now owns 25,260 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,296,000 after acquiring an additional 17,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Louisiana State Employees Retirement System bought a new position in shares of Alliant Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $790,000. 79.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Alliant Energy Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NASDAQ:LNT opened at $49.80 on Wednesday. Alliant Energy has a 52-week low of $45.15 and a 52-week high of $56.26. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $48.96 and a 200 day moving average of $49.55. The firm has a market capitalization of $12.75 billion, a PE ratio of 17.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.55.

Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.55 by ($0.07). The company had revenue of $961.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.25 billion. Alliant Energy had a return on equity of 10.85% and a net margin of 17.46%. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.46 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Alliant Energy will post 3.07 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Alliant Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 30th will be paid a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 29th. Alliant Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 69.06%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on LNT shares. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Alliant Energy from $55.00 to $54.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, April 11th. Scotiabank lowered their price target on shares of Alliant Energy from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 22nd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on shares of Alliant Energy from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, April 15th. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered their target price on shares of Alliant Energy from $48.50 to $48.00 and set a “neutral” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. Finally, Barclays reissued an “equal weight” rating and set a $53.00 target price (up previously from $50.00) on shares of Alliant Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $50.71.

About Alliant Energy

Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a utility holding company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations, and Utility Other. The company, through its subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), primarily generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Iowa; sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; and generates and distributes steam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.