Cypress Capital Group Decreases Stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Cypress Capital Group lessened its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE - Free Report) by 10.5% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 40,686 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 4,757 shares during the quarter. Cypress Capital Group's holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $2,917,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Burkett Financial Services LLC lifted its position in shares of NextEra Energy by 1,229.6% during the fourth quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 359 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares in the last quarter. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new stake in NextEra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Finally, Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd raised its holdings in NextEra Energy by 2,482.6% in the third quarter. Harvest Fund Management Co. Ltd now owns 594 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 571 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.72% of the company's stock.

Insider Activity at NextEra Energy

In related news, CAO James Michael May sold 2,383 shares of NextEra Energy stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.09, for a total value of $162,258.47. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 27,427 shares in the company, valued at $1,867,504.43. This trade represents a 7.99 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

NextEra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NEE traded down $0.35 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $70.51. 7,722,390 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,417,093. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 0.47 and a quick ratio of 0.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $145.03 billion, a PE ratio of 20.92, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.58. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $70.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $76.16. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a 52-week low of $55.26 and a 52-week high of $86.10.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.53. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 28.06% and a return on equity of 11.85%. On average, equities research analysts expect that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th will be given a $0.5665 dividend. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.21%. This is a positive change from NextEra Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, February 28th. NextEra Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 67.06%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on NEE shares. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $99.00 to $90.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $93.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Evercore ISI dropped their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $84.00 to $79.00 and set an "in-line" rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a "sector outperform" rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Eight equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $85.85.

About NextEra Energy

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.