First Trust Advisors LP Has $146.83 Million Holdings in Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC)

First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 4.6% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 3,900,962 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 169,833 shares during the quarter. First Trust Advisors LP owned about 0.39% of Exelon worth $146,832,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of EXC. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in Exelon by 7.0% during the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 217,868 shares of the company's stock worth $8,201,000 after acquiring an additional 14,158 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its stake in shares of Exelon by 20.8% in the 4th quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,624,805 shares of the company's stock worth $61,158,000 after purchasing an additional 279,827 shares during the last quarter. Greenup Street Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Exelon in the 4th quarter worth approximately $2,274,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Exelon by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,159,783 shares of the company's stock worth $47,029,000 after purchasing an additional 36,734 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. lifted its stake in Exelon by 10.6% during the fourth quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 22,612 shares of the company's stock valued at $851,000 after purchasing an additional 2,160 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.92% of the company's stock.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total transaction of $59,353.91. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,134.47. This represents a 39.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Exelon Stock Up 2.5 %

Shares of NASDAQ:EXC traded up $1.14 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $47.37. 7,381,381 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,240,251. Exelon Co. has a 1-year low of $34.01 and a 1-year high of $48.11. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 0.87 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61. The firm has a market cap of $47.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.33, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $44.50 and a 200 day simple moving average of $40.90.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. Exelon had a return on equity of 9.52% and a net margin of 10.68%. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.60 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This is a boost from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.38%. Exelon's payout ratio is 65.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have recently commented on EXC. Scotiabank increased their price objective on Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Exelon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Barclays lifted their price target on Exelon from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Evercore ISI restated an "in-line" rating and set a $48.00 price target (up previously from $46.00) on shares of Exelon in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Exelon presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $45.63.

Exelon Company Profile

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.