KeyCorp Raises Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) Price Target to $69.00

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by KeyCorp from $66.00 to $69.00 in a report published on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on XEL. Argus raised Xcel Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Monday, August 26th. UBS Group upped their price objective on Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, September 20th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Xcel Energy in a report on Thursday, September 19th. They issued a hold rating and a $70.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on Xcel Energy from $68.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $64.36.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ XEL traded up $0.59 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $65.16. The company's stock had a trading volume of 1,289,267 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,236,457. The firm has a market capitalization of $36.21 billion, a PE ratio of 19.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a current ratio of 0.97 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $60.82 and a two-hundred day moving average of $56.40. Xcel Energy has a 52 week low of $46.79 and a 52 week high of $65.30.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.57 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $3.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.29 billion. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.46%. The business's revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.52 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy will post 3.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a dividend of $0.548 per share. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.36%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This is a positive change from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 65.77%.

Institutional Trading of Xcel Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in XEL. Gateway Wealth Partners LLC raised its stake in Xcel Energy by 4.3% in the 2nd quarter. Gateway Wealth Partners LLC now owns 4,413 shares of the company's stock worth $236,000 after acquiring an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. Epiq Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 0.7% during the 1st quarter. Epiq Partners LLC now owns 29,072 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,563,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the period. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 16,054 shares of the company's stock valued at $863,000 after acquiring an additional 212 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC boosted its holdings in Xcel Energy by 3.7% in the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 6,249 shares of the company's stock worth $364,000 after buying an additional 222 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bailard Inc. boosted its holdings in Xcel Energy by 2.0% in the 2nd quarter. Bailard Inc. now owns 12,074 shares of the company's stock worth $645,000 after buying an additional 242 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Company 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.