Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Acquired by Freedom Investment Management Inc.

Freedom Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 20.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 6,707 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,123 shares during the period. Freedom Investment Management Inc.’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $438,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy during the second quarter worth approximately $30,000. American National Bank purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of XEL opened at $72.56 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12 month low of $46.79 and a 12 month high of $73.38. The stock has a market cap of $41.67 billion, a PE ratio of 21.53, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.38. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $66.23 and its two-hundred day moving average is $60.37.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.26 by ($0.01). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 13.67% and a return on equity of 10.76%. The firm had revenue of $3.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.93 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.23 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts forecast that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Xcel Energy from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Barclays increased their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $67.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Argus upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Xcel Energy presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $66.62.

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.