Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. Increases Stock Holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. grew its stake in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 1.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 215,155 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 3,600 shares during the period. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V.’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $14,527,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of XEL. AMF Tjanstepension AB grew its position in Xcel Energy by 185.2% during the 3rd quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB now owns 34,960 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,283,000 after purchasing an additional 22,701 shares during the last quarter. abrdn plc grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 23.0% during the third quarter. abrdn plc now owns 180,593 shares of the company’s stock worth $11,756,000 after buying an additional 33,752 shares during the last quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 111.6% during the third quarter. China Universal Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 7,071 shares of the company’s stock worth $465,000 after buying an additional 3,730 shares during the last quarter. Fidelis Capital Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $212,000. Finally, First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 41.7% during the 3rd quarter. First Trust Direct Indexing L.P. now owns 13,327 shares of the company’s stock worth $870,000 after acquiring an additional 3,923 shares during the period. 78.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Stock Up 1.1 %

Xcel Energy stock opened at $70.76 on Friday. Xcel Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.79 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.57, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.43. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $67.36 and its two-hundred day moving average is $65.97. 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 (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued 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%. Analysts predict that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This is an increase from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is currently 63.66%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. 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. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $71.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Finally, KeyCorp raised their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Xcel Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $69.91.

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.