Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC) Stake Boosted by Norinchukin Bank The

Norinchukin Bank The boosted its position in Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 14.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 60,578 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 7,572 shares during the quarter. Norinchukin Bank The's holdings in Exelon were worth $2,280,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Covalis Capital LLP bought a new stake in shares of Exelon in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $15,276,000. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its holdings in shares of Exelon by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 3,343,943 shares of the company's stock worth $125,866,000 after purchasing an additional 34,219 shares during the period. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its position in shares of Exelon by 4.6% in the 4th quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,900,962 shares of the company's stock worth $146,832,000 after buying an additional 169,833 shares during the last quarter. Commerce Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Exelon by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 49,895 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,878,000 after buying an additional 605 shares during the period. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its position in shares of Exelon by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 2,400,110 shares of the company's stock valued at $90,340,000 after buying an additional 81,652 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.92% of the company's stock.

Insider Transactions at Exelon

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the 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 completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,271 shares of the company's stock, valued at $92,134.47. This represents a 39.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

EXC has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Evercore ISI reissued an "in-line" rating and issued a $48.00 target price (up previously from $46.00) on shares of Exelon in a report on Tuesday, April 15th. Barclays boosted their price objective on Exelon from $42.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 25th. Guggenheim set a $47.00 target price on Exelon and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Tuesday. BMO Capital Markets reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a report on Tuesday, February 4th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus target price of $45.78.

Exelon Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ EXC traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $46.22. 6,269,631 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 7,264,982. The company has a market cap of $46.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.87, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $44.73 and a 200 day moving average price of $41.03. Exelon Co. has a 52 week low of $34.01 and a 52 week high of $48.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.78.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share 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 period last year, the company posted $0.60 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a dividend of $0.40 per share. This is a positive change from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. Exelon's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.31%.

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.