Sterling Capital Management LLC Acquires 21,274 Shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC)

Sterling Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Free Report) by 55.3% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 59,717 shares of the company's stock after acquiring an additional 21,274 shares during the period. Sterling Capital Management LLC's holdings in Exelon were worth $2,248,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Millstone Evans Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Exelon during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Stephens Consulting LLC raised its holdings in shares of Exelon by 78.1% in the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company's stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 343 shares during the period. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Exelon in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $30,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Exelon during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, Capital Advisors Ltd. LLC boosted its holdings in shares of 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 buying an additional 513 shares during the period. 80.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Exelon Price Performance

EXC stock traded up $0.75 during trading on Friday, reaching $47.26. 7,496,103 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,228,455. Exelon Co. has a twelve month low of $34.01 and a twelve month high of $48.11. The company has a market capitalization of $47.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.29, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.78. The company has a 50-day moving average of $44.35 and a two-hundred day moving average of $40.81.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate 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 in the previous year, the company posted $0.60 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict 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 given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. This is a boost from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Exelon's dividend payout ratio is 65.31%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. UBS Group lifted their price target on Exelon from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a report on Friday, March 21st. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Exelon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the stock an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Scotiabank increased their price target on Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the stock a "sector perform" rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Finally, Evercore ISI reiterated an "in-line" rating and set a $48.00 target price (up from $46.00) on shares of Exelon in a research report on Tuesday. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Exelon presently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $45.63.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was 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 owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at $92,134.47. The trade was a 39.18 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Company 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.