Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) PT Raised to $67.00

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) had its price target upped by UBS Group from $66.00 to $67.00 in a report published on Friday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a neutral rating on the stock.

A number of other equities research analysts have also recently commented on XEL. Argus upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $68.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, August 26th. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Xcel Energy in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. They set a hold rating and a $70.00 target price on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, August 2nd. KeyCorp upped their price target on Xcel Energy from $65.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, September 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $63.79.

Xcel Energy Stock Down 0.3 %

Shares of NASDAQ:XEL opened at $63.96 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $60.11 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $56.06. Xcel Energy has a 12-month low of $46.79 and a 12-month high of $64.95. The stock has a market capitalization of $35.54 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.21, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.03). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.46%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.29 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.52 EPS. Xcel Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be given a $0.548 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This is an increase from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.43%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.77%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Heritage Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Tidemark LLC bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter worth $29,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter worth $30,000. American National Bank bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the second quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Quarry LP bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.