Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Sold by Private Advisor Group LLC

Private Advisor Group LLC trimmed its holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 14.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 53,943 shares of the company’s stock after selling 9,199 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $3,642,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy in the third quarter valued at $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Barclays lowered their price target on Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. KeyCorp boosted their price objective on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Xcel Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.91.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:XEL opened at $69.94 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.93. Xcel Energy Inc. has a one year low of $46.79 and a one year high of $73.38. The company has a market capitalization of $40.16 billion, a PE ratio of 20.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.43. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $67.09 and a 200-day moving average of $65.73.

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

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 6th were issued a $0.5475 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 6th. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is currently 63.66%.

Xcel Energy 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.