Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) Downgraded to Sell Rating by StockNews.com

StockNews.com downgraded shares of Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES - Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report released on Friday morning.

Other analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price objective on Eversource Energy from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group cut their price target on Eversource Energy from $52.00 to $47.00 and set an "underperform" rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 28th. Guggenheim reiterated a "buy" rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a report on Monday, February 10th. Scotiabank cut their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $56.00 to $55.00 and set a "sector underperform" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Eversource Energy from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Eversource Energy has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $67.45.

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Eversource Energy Stock Up 0.5 %

ES traded up $0.32 during trading on Friday, reaching $61.25. 522,018 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,930,360. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a quick ratio of 0.76 and a current ratio of 0.76. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $59.94 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $61.80. Eversource Energy has a twelve month low of $54.75 and a twelve month high of $69.01. The stock has a market cap of $22.48 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.60.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 11th. The utilities provider reported $1.01 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.00 by $0.01. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 6.82% and a return on equity of 10.99%. Equities analysts expect that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 EPS for the current year.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, March 4th will be paid a dividend of $0.7525 per share. This represents a $3.01 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.91%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 4th. This is a positive change from Eversource Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. Eversource Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 130.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Eversource Energy

In other news, insider Frederica M. Williams sold 3,092 shares of Eversource Energy stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.26, for a total value of $192,507.92. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 22,671 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,411,496.46. This trade represents a 12.00 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Jay S. Buth sold 980 shares of Eversource Energy stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $62.99, for a total value of $61,730.20. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 24,374 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,535,318.26. This represents a 3.87 % decrease in their position. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.41% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ES. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Eversource Energy by 3.2% in the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 44,609,716 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $2,561,936,000 after purchasing an additional 1,387,072 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 25,539,895 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,737,990,000 after acquiring an additional 430,587 shares in the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 38.6% in the 4th quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 16,470,356 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $945,893,000 after purchasing an additional 4,585,232 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 2.3% during the 4th quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 9,933,838 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $570,500,000 after purchasing an additional 226,972 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its stake in Eversource Energy by 5.7% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 9,557,213 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $547,550,000 after purchasing an additional 517,042 shares during the period. 79.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Eversource Energy Company Profile

Eversource Energy, a public utility holding company, engages in the energy delivery business. The company operates through Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution segments. It is involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity; solar power facilities; and distribution of natural gas.