Strs Ohio lowered its holdings in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC – Free Report) by 13.7% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 239,137 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 37,923 shares during the period. Strs Ohio’s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $27,403,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Bayforest Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $26,000. CoreFirst Bank & Trust bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the second quarter worth $26,000. Osterweis Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in WEC Energy Group in the second quarter valued at $27,000. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC boosted its stake in WEC Energy Group by 265.8% during the 2nd quarter. New England Capital Financial Advisors LLC now owns 278 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Salomon & Ludwin LLC bought a new position in WEC Energy Group during the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. 77.20% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.
WEC Energy Group Stock Down 0.2%
Shares of WEC Energy Group stock opened at $109.15 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29. The business’s 50 day simple moving average is $107.15 and its 200-day simple moving average is $109.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.63, a PEG ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.58. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $96.37 and a twelve month high of $118.18.
WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend
The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 13th will be given a dividend of $0.9525 per share. This is an increase from WEC Energy Group’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.89. This represents a $3.81 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.5%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 13th. WEC Energy Group’s payout ratio is currently 67.49%.
Wall Street Analyst Weigh In
A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on WEC. TD Cowen began coverage on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research note on Thursday, October 16th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $125.00 target price on the stock. Weiss Ratings restated a “buy (b)” rating on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research note on Monday, December 29th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on WEC Energy Group from $124.00 to $117.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday. Citigroup initiated coverage on WEC Energy Group in a report on Friday, October 3rd. They issued a “buy” rating and a $131.00 price target for the company. Finally, LADENBURG THALM/SH SH upgraded WEC Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research note on Monday, October 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, six have issued a Buy rating, seven have assigned a Hold rating and one has given a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $120.36.
Key Stories Impacting WEC Energy Group
Here are the key news stories impacting WEC Energy Group this week:
- Positive Sentiment: Board raised the quarterly common dividend by 6.7% to $0.9525 per share (annualized $3.81), reinforcing WEC’s income profile and supporting yield-focused investor demand. WEC Energy Group raises quarterly dividend by 6.7 percent
- Positive Sentiment: Major business-media outlets highlighted the dividend increase, increasing visibility to income investors and potentially underpinning the share price. WEC Energy Group Raises Dividend 6.7%
- Positive Sentiment: Analyst commentary and models that emphasize EPS growth point to WEC as an opportunity for investors focused on steady earnings growth and dividend coverage; this supports a longer-term constructive view. If EPS Growth Is Important To You, WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) Presents An Opportunity
- Neutral Sentiment: Barclays nudged its price target up from $105 to $110 but kept an “equal weight” rating — a modest positive signal but not a strong upgrade of sentiment. Benzinga note on Barclays price target
- Neutral Sentiment: WEC declared quarterly preferred-stock dividends (routine payment schedule for preferred series); material mainly to preferred holders and not a major surprise for common shareholders. Wisconsin Electric declares quarterly dividends
- Neutral Sentiment: Analysts offered sector-level insights on utilities including WEC (TipRanks/Globe and Mail), providing context but no material new guidance; useful for investors benchmarking WEC vs. peers. Analysts Offer Insights on Utilities Companies: American Water (AWK) and WEC Energy Group (WEC)
- Neutral Sentiment: Longtime WEC leader Gale Klappa will retire from the board and be named Chairman Emeritus; the company has a planned succession with Lauber to be appointed chairman. This is a controlled, announced transition but may prompt investor scrutiny of governance and strategy under new board leadership. Klappa to retire, named Chairman Emeritus
- Neutral Sentiment: Local and national coverage noted Klappa’s retirement after 22+ years on the board; given the planned, orderly succession the move is not unexpected but remains a watch item for governance/strategy continuity. WEC Energy Group chairman Gale Klappa to retire from board after more than 22 years
- Neutral Sentiment: National coverage summarized the board/leadership news for broader investor audiences. Longtime head of We Energies’ corporate parent is retiring
WEC Energy Group Profile
WEC Energy Group is a Milwaukee, Wisconsin–based regulated energy holding company whose primary businesses are the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and the distribution of natural gas. The company operates through a set of utility subsidiaries that provide bundled energy service, customer billing and energy-related programs to residential, commercial and industrial customers. As a regulated utility group, WEC’s operations focus on delivering reliable service while managing infrastructure investment and compliance with state and federal utility regulation.
Its utility subsidiaries include well-known regional operators such as We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service, along with Chicago-area natural gas utilities that were part of the Integrys Energy Group acquisition.
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