Johnson Financial Group Inc. Takes $1.06 Million Position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Johnson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 15,762 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,059,000.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dakota Wealth Management raised its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 0.7% in the 4th quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 23,130 shares of the company's stock worth $1,562,000 after buying an additional 151 shares in the last quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC grew its position in Xcel Energy by 26.0% in the fourth quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 731 shares of the company's stock valued at $49,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the period. GenTrust LLC raised its stake in Xcel Energy by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. GenTrust LLC now owns 3,602 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares in the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 23.2% during the fourth quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 827 shares of the company's stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. Finally, Integris Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 2.6% in the 4th quarter. Integris Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,323 shares of the company's stock valued at $427,000 after purchasing an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages recently issued reports on XEL. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Saturday. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group raised their price target on Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the company a "neutral" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Barclays boosted their price objective on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $74.60.

Insider Buying and Selling at Xcel Energy

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish acquired 2,170 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $68.93 per share, for a total transaction of $149,578.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,007 shares of the company's stock, valued at $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Trading Down 1.8 %

XEL stock opened at $69.00 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Xcel Energy Inc. has a twelve month low of $51.97 and a twelve month high of $73.38. The company has a market cap of $39.74 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.06, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.39. The business has a fifty day moving average of $69.58 and a 200-day moving average of $68.06.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.95 by ($0.11). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 14.40%. The firm had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were issued 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 yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 67.06%.

Xcel Energy 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.

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