Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Stake Cut by Two Sigma Advisers LP

Two Sigma Advisers LP cut its holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 32.7% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 265,900 shares of the company's stock after selling 129,100 shares during the quarter. Two Sigma Advisers LP's holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $17,363,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy during the second quarter worth $30,000. American National Bank purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at $32,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $35,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of Xcel Energy stock traded down $0.63 during trading on Monday, reaching $69.11. The company's stock had a trading volume of 2,760,680 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,118,104. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $66.88 and a 200-day moving average price of $60.93. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The company has a market capitalization of $39.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.41. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12-month low of $46.79 and a 12-month high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last issued 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 analysts' expectations of $3.93 billion. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.76% and a net margin of 13.67%. The company's revenue for the quarter was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.23 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.54 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts recently issued reports on XEL shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays upped their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $67.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Tuesday, November 26th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Wednesday, October 16th. Argus raised Xcel Energy from a "hold" rating to a "buy" rating and set a $68.00 target price on the stock in a research report on Monday, August 26th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Seven research 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, Xcel Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $67.00.

Xcel Energy 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.