Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Purchased by AMF Tjanstepension AB

AMF Tjanstepension AB boosted its position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 185.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 34,960 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 22,701 shares during the quarter. AMF Tjanstepension AB's holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $2,283,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $30,000. American National Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $32,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Kimelman & Baird LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $35,000. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ XEL traded down $0.67 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $63.73. 3,052,012 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,206,958. Xcel Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $46.79 and a fifty-two week high of $65.64. 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 firm has a market cap of $35.41 billion, a PE ratio of 19.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.39. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $61.55 and a 200-day simple moving average of $56.71.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.57 by ($0.03). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 13.46% and a return on equity of 10.94%. The company had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.29 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.52 EPS. Xcel Energy's revenue was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 20th. Investors of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.548 per share. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.44%. 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 (DPR) is currently 65.77%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

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

Xcel Energy 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.