Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Sold by Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC

Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 40.7% in the second quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 289,737 shares of the company's stock after selling 198,985 shares during the period. Susquehanna Fundamental Investments LLC owned 0.05% of Xcel Energy worth $15,475,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 770.0% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 7,552,625 shares of the company's stock worth $405,955,000 after purchasing an additional 6,684,499 shares during the period. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Mitsubishi UFJ Trust & Banking Corp now owns 4,186,101 shares of the company's stock worth $223,264,000 after purchasing an additional 74,690 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 120.2% during the 2nd quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,379,615 shares of the company's stock worth $127,095,000 after purchasing an additional 1,299,025 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 130.4% during the 2nd quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 2,084,345 shares of the company's stock worth $111,325,000 after purchasing an additional 1,179,823 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 10.4% during the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,854,333 shares of the company's stock worth $99,046,000 after purchasing an additional 174,653 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

XEL stock traded up $0.59 during trading on Friday, reaching $64.57. 1,912,936 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,252,125. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 52-week low of $46.79 and a 52-week high of $64.95. The company has a market cap of $35.88 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.39, a PEG ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.97. The stock's 50 day moving average price is $60.82 and its 200 day moving average price is $56.34.

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

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be issued a $0.548 dividend. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, September 13th. This is an increase from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is 65.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Xcel Energy in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. They set a "hold" rating and a $70.00 price target for the company. UBS Group raised their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Argus upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $68.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Wednesday. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $64.14.

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.