Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) Receives Average Rating of "Hold" from Brokerages

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES - Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of "Hold" from the ten ratings firms that are currently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell recommendation, four have given a hold recommendation and three have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price target among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $65.78.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Eversource Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research report on Friday. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Eversource Energy from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an "overweight" rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Guggenheim reaffirmed a "buy" rating on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Monday, February 10th. Barclays lowered their price target on Eversource Energy from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reissued an "underweight" rating and set a $58.00 target price (down previously from $69.00) on shares of Eversource Energy in a research report on Thursday, April 10th.

Eversource Energy Stock Down 1.1 %

Shares of Eversource Energy stock traded down $0.67 during trading on Friday, reaching $57.86. 2,992,213 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,342,677. The firm has a market capitalization of $21.24 billion, a PE ratio of 25.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.35 and a beta of 0.58. Eversource Energy has a 1-year low of $52.28 and a 1-year high of $69.01. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $59.86 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.30. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 0.76 and a quick ratio of 0.76.

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 (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.01. Eversource Energy had a net margin of 6.82% and a return on equity of 10.99%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Eversource Energy will post 4.75 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 4th were given a $0.7525 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 4th. This is a boost from Eversource Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.72. This represents a $3.01 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.20%. Eversource Energy's payout ratio is 130.30%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related 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 transaction of $192,507.92. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 22,671 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,411,496.46. This trade represents a 12.00 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, VP Jay S. Buth sold 980 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $62.99, for a total value of $61,730.20. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 24,374 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,535,318.26. The trade was a 3.87 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.41% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of ES. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. raised its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 33.0% during the 4th quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 40,231 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,306,000 after buying an additional 9,981 shares in the last quarter. Verity & Verity LLC purchased a new stake in Eversource Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $744,000. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in Eversource Energy by 41.7% during the fourth quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 1,735,901 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $99,554,000 after purchasing an additional 510,582 shares during the last quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA lifted its stake in Eversource Energy by 125.2% during the fourth quarter. Everett Harris & Co. CA now owns 8,093 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $465,000 after purchasing an additional 4,500 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Nisa Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Eversource Energy by 12.2% in the 4th quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 73,096 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $4,198,000 after purchasing an additional 7,967 shares in the last quarter. 79.99% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

About Eversource Energy

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.