Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Bought by Cullen Frost Bankers Inc.

Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. raised its stake in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 163.9% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 15,241 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 9,465 shares during the period. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc.'s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $1,029,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Xcel Energy by 566.3% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company's stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Xcel Energy Trading Up 2.4 %

Xcel Energy stock traded up $1.66 during midday trading on Monday, reaching $69.66. 538,811 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,633,740. The firm has a market cap of $40.02 billion, a PE ratio of 20.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $67.57 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $66.50. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $50.76 and a 12-month high of $73.38. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Remove Ads

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.06). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 14.40% and a return on equity of 10.65%. Research analysts expect that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This is a positive change from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.27%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy's payout ratio is currently 66.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Barclays decreased their price target 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. KeyCorp boosted their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded Xcel Energy from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and upped their price target for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $69.91.

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.