NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Shares Acquired by ClearBridge Investments Ltd

ClearBridge Investments Ltd lifted its stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE - Free Report) by 19.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 4,452,303 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 713,755 shares during the period. NextEra Energy accounts for approximately 8.4% of ClearBridge Investments Ltd's holdings, making the stock its 2nd largest holding. ClearBridge Investments Ltd owned about 0.22% of NextEra Energy worth $319,186,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in the stock. Burkett Financial Services LLC grew its holdings in shares of NextEra Energy by 1,229.6% in the 4th quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 359 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 332 shares during the period. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in NextEra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $28,000. Quarry LP bought a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the third quarter worth about $33,000. WealthTrak Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $33,000. Finally, Luken Investment Analytics LLC bought a new position in shares of NextEra Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. 78.72% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Buying and Selling at NextEra Energy

In related news, CAO James Michael May sold 2,383 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.09, for a total value of $162,258.47. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 27,427 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,867,504.43. The trade was a 7.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.18% of the company's stock.

NextEra Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NextEra Energy stock traded up $1.47 on Thursday, hitting $71.95. The stock had a trading volume of 6,767,146 shares, compared to its average volume of 10,619,248. The stock has a market cap of $148.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.35, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.58. The business's 50 day moving average is $70.71 and its two-hundred day moving average is $74.87. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $61.31 and a twelve month high of $86.10.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 EPS for the quarter, meeting analysts' consensus estimates of $0.53. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 28.06%. Analysts forecast that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current year.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 28th were paid a $0.5665 dividend. This is a boost from NextEra Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.15%. NextEra Energy's payout ratio is 67.06%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group dropped their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on shares of NextEra Energy from $82.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Monday, January 27th. Scotiabank upped their target price on NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the stock a "sector outperform" rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating and issued a $89.00 price target on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. 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 data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $85.92.

NextEra Energy Profile

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.