BTG Pactual Asset Management US LLC Increases Position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

BTG Pactual Asset Management US LLC raised its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 64.0% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 97,572 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 38,091 shares during the period. Xcel Energy accounts for about 0.7% of BTG Pactual Asset Management US LLC's holdings, making the stock its 28th largest holding. BTG Pactual Asset Management US LLC's holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $6,588,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Dakota Wealth Management boosted its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 0.7% in the fourth quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 23,130 shares of the company's stock worth $1,562,000 after buying an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC grew its holdings in Xcel Energy by 26.0% during the fourth quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 731 shares of the company's stock valued at $49,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. GenTrust LLC increased its position in Xcel Energy by 4.5% in the fourth quarter. GenTrust LLC now owns 3,602 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after buying an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV lifted its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 23.2% during the 4th quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 827 shares of the company's stock valued at $56,000 after buying an additional 156 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Integris Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Integris Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,323 shares of the company's stock valued at $427,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several brokerages have recently commented on XEL. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday, March 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $73.00.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

XEL traded up $1.03 on Friday, reaching $70.13. 2,784,548 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,587,282. 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 company's 50-day moving average price is $69.32 and its 200 day moving average price is $67.76. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.40 billion, a PE ratio of 20.39, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.39. Xcel Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $51.97 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 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, sell-side analysts forecast that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This is an increase from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.25%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Xcel Energy

In other news, Director Devin W. Stockfish bought 2,170 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,007 shares in the company, valued at $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

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.