Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Director Devin W. Stockfish Purchases 2,170 Shares of Stock

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Director Devin W. Stockfish acquired 2,170 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $68.93 per share, for a total transaction of $149,578.10. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $207,272.51. This represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ XEL opened at $68.85 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $39.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.01, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $67.65 and its 200-day simple moving average is $66.64. 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 52 week low of $50.76 and a 52 week high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share (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 research analysts expect that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This is a positive change from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.31%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio is presently 66.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and boosted their target price for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. KeyCorp lifted their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Barclays decreased their target price 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 boosted their target price on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $71.10.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of XEL. CWA Asset Management Group LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $635,000. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 100.4% in the 3rd quarter. Mesirow Financial Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,522 shares of the company’s stock valued at $557,000 after purchasing an additional 4,270 shares during the last quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV lifted its holdings in Xcel Energy by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. Nations Financial Group Inc. IA ADV now owns 6,899 shares of the company’s stock worth $451,000 after buying an additional 1,231 shares during the period. Finally, Apollon Wealth Management LLC lifted its holdings in Xcel Energy by 196.1% during the 3rd quarter. Apollon Wealth Management LLC now owns 28,768 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,879,000 after buying an additional 19,054 shares during the period. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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.