Argyle Capital Management LLC Buys 10,100 Shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC)

Argyle Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 47.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 31,542 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 10,100 shares during the period. Argyle Capital Management LLC's holdings in Exelon were worth $1,187,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Stephens Consulting LLC boosted its position in Exelon by 78.1% in the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new position in shares of Exelon in the fourth quarter worth about $30,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new position in Exelon in the third quarter valued at about $32,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Exelon during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC increased its holdings in Exelon by 119.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 942 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after purchasing an additional 513 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.92% of the company's stock.

Exelon Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:EXC traded up $0.21 during trading hours on Monday, hitting $44.41. 1,747,126 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,254,640. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $40.13 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $39.35. The company has a market cap of $44.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.87. Exelon Co. has a 52 week low of $34.01 and a 52 week high of $44.61.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. Exelon had a net margin of 10.68% and a return on equity of 9.52%. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be given a $0.40 dividend. This is a positive change from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.60%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. Exelon's dividend payout ratio is presently 65.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

EXC has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Guggenheim raised shares of Exelon from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Barclays boosted their price objective on Exelon from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, February 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Exelon from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Exelon presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $44.13.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total value of $59,353.91. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 2,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $92,134.47. The trade was a 39.18 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Exelon Company Profile

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.