WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC) Stake Cut by Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC

Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC decreased its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC - Free Report) by 7.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 83,796 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 6,390 shares during the period. Brandywine Global Investment Management LLC's holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $7,880,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Annex Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of WEC Energy Group by 6.5% during the 4th quarter. Annex Advisory Services LLC now owns 110,644 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $10,405,000 after buying an additional 6,785 shares during the last quarter. Matrix Trust Co purchased a new stake in WEC Energy Group during the fourth quarter valued at about $1,538,000. Motley Fool Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in WEC Energy Group by 51.0% during the third quarter. Motley Fool Wealth Management LLC now owns 29,978 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,883,000 after acquiring an additional 10,126 shares during the last quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC raised its holdings in shares of WEC Energy Group by 20.9% in the 4th quarter. Gateway Investment Advisers LLC now owns 453,945 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $42,689,000 after purchasing an additional 78,580 shares during the period. Finally, PFW Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at about $1,073,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.20% of the company's stock.

WEC Energy Group Stock Down 0.4 %

NYSE:WEC traded down $0.46 on Thursday, reaching $108.38. The stock had a trading volume of 4,675,165 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,101,225. The company has a 50-day moving average of $104.19 and a 200 day moving average of $99.20. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market cap of $34.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.44, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.45. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $77.47 and a 12-month high of $111.00.

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WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.06). WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 12.39%. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.50 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.10 EPS. The company's revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 5.23 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Transactions at WEC Energy Group

In other news, Director Gale E. Klappa sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.62, for a total transaction of $2,715,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 274,955 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $29,865,612.10. This trade represents a 8.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of WEC Energy Group stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.17, for a total value of $119,795.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,951 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,286,635.67. This trade represents a 4.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Barclays raised shares of WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $89.00 to $93.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. Bank of America upgraded shares of WEC Energy Group from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the company from $90.00 to $98.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. KeyCorp increased their price target on WEC Energy Group from $108.00 to $109.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $101.88.

WEC Energy Group Company Profile

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.