KLCM Advisors Inc. Buys 6,435 Shares of Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT)

KLCM Advisors Inc. grew its position in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT - Free Report) by 66.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,133 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 6,435 shares during the period. KLCM Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Alliant Energy were worth $954,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC increased its position in Alliant Energy by 372.7% in the 4th quarter. Catalyst Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,333 shares of the company's stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 1,051 shares during the last quarter. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC acquired a new position in Alliant Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $213,000. Principal Securities Inc. increased its position in Alliant Energy by 25.1% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 4,684 shares of the company's stock worth $277,000 after purchasing an additional 941 shares during the last quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co increased its position in Alliant Energy by 251.2% in the 4th quarter. WASHINGTON TRUST Co now owns 878 shares of the company's stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 628 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Roman Butler Fullerton & Co. acquired a new position in Alliant Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $202,000. 79.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alliant Energy Stock Performance

LNT traded down $0.03 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $61.62. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,246,987 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,561,981. The stock has a market cap of $15.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.88, a PEG ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $59.37 and a 200 day simple moving average of $59.59. The company has a current ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. Alliant Energy Co. has a twelve month low of $46.80 and a twelve month high of $64.19.

Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 20th. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts' consensus estimates of $0.68 by $0.02. Alliant Energy had a return on equity of 10.56% and a net margin of 16.66%. Research analysts expect that Alliant Energy Co. will post 3.03 earnings per share for the current year.

Alliant Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 31st were given a $0.5075 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 31st. This represents a $2.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.29%. This is an increase from Alliant Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. Alliant Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.68%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

LNT has been the topic of several research reports. Barclays dropped their target price on Alliant Energy from $61.00 to $59.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 6th. Scotiabank lowered Alliant Energy from a "sector outperform" rating to a "sector perform" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $64.00 to $67.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price objective on Alliant Energy from $66.00 to $65.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective on Alliant Energy from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a "market perform" rating on the stock in a report on Monday, November 4th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Alliant Energy has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $63.39.

Alliant Energy Profile

Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a utility holding company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations, and Utility Other. The company, through its subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), primarily generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Iowa; sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; and generates and distributes steam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.