Victory Capital Management Inc. Has $344.08 Million Stake in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Victory Capital Management Inc. lowered its holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 7.2% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,095,929 shares of the company's stock after selling 392,855 shares during the quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. owned 0.89% of Xcel Energy worth $344,077,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company's stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on XEL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Barclays decreased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an "overweight" rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $69.91.

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Xcel Energy Price Performance

XEL traded up $0.34 during trading on Friday, hitting $68.00. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,849,596 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,708,125. The firm's 50 day moving average price is $67.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $66.41. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12 month low of $49.89 and a 12 month high of $73.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.77, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.06). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 14.40%. Sell-side analysts forecast that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.35%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This is an increase from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 66.28%.

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.