Tidal Investments LLC Sells 8,011 Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Tidal Investments LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 30.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 18,540 shares of the company's stock after selling 8,011 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC's holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $1,211,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the third quarter worth $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new position in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Kimelman & Baird LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000. West Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy during the third quarter valued at about $43,000. Finally, Rothschild Investment LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the second quarter worth about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Up 0.4 %

XEL traded up $0.25 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $66.65. 4,607,857 shares of the company's stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,112,722. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The company has a market cap of $38.27 billion, a PE ratio of 19.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.79 and a beta of 0.41. Xcel Energy Inc. has a one year low of $46.79 and a one year high of $73.38. The stock's fifty day simple moving average is $67.54 and its 200-day simple moving average is $61.67.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.64 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion. Xcel Energy had a net margin of 13.67% and a return on equity of 10.76%. The firm's revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.23 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, January 20th. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 6th will be issued a dividend of $0.5475 per share. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.29%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, January 6th. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is 64.99%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts recently commented on XEL shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and upped their price target for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a research report on Friday, November 1st. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 22nd. KeyCorp lifted their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on Xcel Energy from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Finally, Argus upgraded 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. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $69.17.

Xcel Energy Company 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.