MML Investors Services LLC Boosts Stock Position in Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC)

MML Investors Services LLC lifted its stake in Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 14.2% in the fourth quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 81,310 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 10,087 shares during the period. MML Investors Services LLC's holdings in Exelon were worth $3,061,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Czech National Bank increased its holdings in shares of Exelon by 7.0% in the fourth quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 217,868 shares of the company's stock worth $8,201,000 after purchasing an additional 14,158 shares during the period. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. grew its position in Exelon by 20.8% during the fourth quarter. Robeco Institutional Asset Management B.V. now owns 1,624,805 shares of the company's stock worth $61,158,000 after buying an additional 279,827 shares in the last quarter. Greenup Street Wealth Management LLC bought a new position in Exelon in the 4th quarter worth about $2,274,000. Principal Financial Group Inc. increased its stake in 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 acquiring an additional 36,734 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Principal Securities Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Exelon by 10.6% in the 4th quarter. Principal Securities Inc. now owns 22,612 shares of the company's stock valued at $851,000 after acquiring an additional 2,160 shares in the last quarter. 80.92% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of Exelon stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total value of $59,353.91. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at $92,134.47. The trade was a 39.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Exelon Price Performance

EXC opened at $46.22 on Monday. The stock's 50 day simple moving average is $44.73 and its 200 day simple moving average is $41.05. Exelon Co. has a 1 year low of $34.01 and a 1 year high of $48.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The firm has a market cap of $46.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) 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 period last year, the firm posted $0.60 EPS. As a group, analysts predict that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Exelon 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.

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