Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Acquired by Gries Financial LLC

Gries Financial LLC boosted its position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 21.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,724 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 647 shares during the period. Gries Financial LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $251,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its stake 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 acquiring an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. West Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Finally, First Financial Corp IN acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter worth $46,000. 78.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Stock Up 1.2 %

XEL opened at $66.86 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $38.39 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.84, a P/E/G ratio of 2.53 and a beta of 0.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm’s fifty day moving average price is $68.02 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.35. Xcel Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.79 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38.

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

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 6th were paid a $0.5475 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 6th. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.28%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 64.99%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

XEL has been the topic of several analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a research note on Friday, November 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Xcel Energy from an “equal weight” rating to an “overweight” rating and increased their target price for the company from $70.00 to $72.00 in a report on Monday, January 13th. KeyCorp upped their price target 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, Barclays decreased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.64.

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.