Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC) Shares Sold by National Pension Service

National Pension Service reduced its position in shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 48.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,358,086 shares of the company's stock after selling 1,294,258 shares during the period. National Pension Service owned about 0.14% of Exelon worth $51,118,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Stephens Consulting LLC lifted its position in shares of Exelon by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company's stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares during the last quarter. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Exelon during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Exelon during the 3rd quarter worth $32,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Exelon during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC raised its stake in Exelon by 119.6% during the 4th quarter. Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC now owns 942 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 513 shares in the last quarter. 80.92% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Exelon Stock Performance

NASDAQ EXC traded up $0.41 during trading on Friday, reaching $44.20. The company's stock had a trading volume of 12,319,512 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,400,085. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.87. The firm has a market cap of $44.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.04, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.56. Exelon Co. has a twelve month low of $34.01 and a twelve month high of $44.46. The business's fifty day moving average price is $40.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $39.35.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last issued 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 quarter last year, the business earned $0.60 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.62%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This is an increase from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Exelon's dividend payout ratio is 65.31%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently commented on the stock. Scotiabank lifted their price target on shares of Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research note on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on shares of Exelon from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. BMO Capital Markets reiterated an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a research note on Tuesday, February 4th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of Exelon from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a research note on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Exelon from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $43.00 to $44.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 21st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $44.13.

Insider Buying and Selling at Exelon

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on 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 owns 2,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $92,134.47. This represents a 39.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

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.