NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) Given New $73.00 Price Target at Barclays

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE - Free Report) had its price target cut by Barclays from $77.00 to $73.00 in a research report released on Tuesday, Marketbeat Ratings reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the utilities provider's stock.

A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on the company. Evercore ISI reduced their target price on NextEra Energy from $84.00 to $79.00 and set an "in-line" rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on NextEra Energy from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Jefferies Financial Group lowered their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Guggenheim reissued a "buy" rating and set a $89.00 price target on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, Erste Group Bank raised shares of NextEra Energy to a "strong-buy" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, NextEra Energy has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $84.08.

NextEra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE NEE traded down $0.60 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $65.75. 1,800,937 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 12,090,228. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $69.45 and a 200 day simple moving average of $72.83. NextEra Energy has a 1 year low of $61.72 and a 1 year high of $86.10. The stock has a market cap of $135.34 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.51, a PEG ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The utilities provider reported $0.99 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.99. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 28.06% and a return on equity of 11.85%. The business had revenue of $6.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $6.58 billion. On average, research analysts forecast that NextEra Energy will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were issued a $0.5665 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.45%. This is a positive change from NextEra Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. NextEra Energy's payout ratio is currently 67.06%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO James Michael May sold 2,383 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.09, for a total value of $162,258.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 27,427 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,867,504.43. This represents a 7.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

Institutional Trading of NextEra Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in NEE. Burkett Financial Services LLC increased its position in shares of NextEra Energy by 1,229.6% in the 4th quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 359 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares during the last quarter. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in NextEra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors own 78.72% of the company's stock.

NextEra Energy Company Profile

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.