Marshall Wace LLP Sells 1,576,907 Shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC)

Marshall Wace LLP decreased its position in Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 84.5% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 288,437 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,576,907 shares during the period. Marshall Wace LLP's holdings in Exelon were worth $10,857,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Exelon during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Stephens Consulting LLC lifted its holdings in Exelon by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 343 shares in the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Exelon in the 4th quarter valued at $30,000. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in Exelon in the fourth quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its stake in shares of Exelon by 119.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 942 shares of the company's stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 513 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.92% of the company's stock.

Exelon Stock Performance

NASDAQ:EXC traded down $0.11 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $46.22. 6,269,631 shares of the company's stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,272,313. The business's fifty day simple moving average is $44.73 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $41.05. Exelon Co. has a one year low of $34.01 and a one year high of $48.11. The firm has a market capitalization of $46.66 billion, a PE ratio of 18.87, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.87.

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

Exelon Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This is a boost from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Exelon's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 65.31%.

Insider Transactions at Exelon

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total transaction of $59,353.91. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at approximately $92,134.47. The trade was a 39.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. 0.10% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms have weighed in on EXC. Barclays increased their target price on Exelon from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 25th. Guggenheim set a $47.00 target price on Exelon and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. UBS Group upped their target price on shares of Exelon from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, March 21st. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Evercore ISI reaffirmed an "in-line" rating and set a $48.00 price target (up from $46.00) on shares of Exelon in a research note on Tuesday, April 15th. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, Exelon has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $45.78.

About Exelon

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.