WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC) Shares Acquired by Earnest Partners LLC

Earnest Partners LLC grew its position in shares of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC - Free Report) by 1.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,015,758 shares of the utilities provider's stock after purchasing an additional 30,989 shares during the quarter. Earnest Partners LLC owned approximately 0.64% of WEC Energy Group worth $189,562,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. World Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 15.6% in the 3rd quarter. World Investment Advisors LLC now owns 21,075 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $2,027,000 after purchasing an additional 2,845 shares in the last quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB grew its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 238.4% during the third quarter. Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB now owns 12,421 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,195,000 after acquiring an additional 8,751 shares during the period. Tidal Investments LLC grew its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 3.9% during the third quarter. Tidal Investments LLC now owns 4,428 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $426,000 after acquiring an additional 166 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp grew its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 4.7% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 2,980 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $287,000 after acquiring an additional 135 shares during the period. Finally, Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp grew its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 56.6% during the third quarter. Peapack Gladstone Financial Corp now owns 6,523 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $627,000 after acquiring an additional 2,358 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.20% of the company's stock.

WEC Energy Group Price Performance

Shares of WEC traded up $0.70 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $109.24. 1,500,167 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,142,928. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $34.86 billion, a PE ratio of 22.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.44. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $77.47 and a fifty-two week high of $111.00. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $106.60 and a 200 day simple moving average of $100.87.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.06). The company had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.50 billion. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 12.39%. The firm's revenue was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.10 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 5.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, May 14th will be given a dividend of $0.8975 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 14th. This is an increase from WEC Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. This represents a $3.59 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.29%. WEC Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is 73.91%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Gale E. Klappa sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $108.62, for a total transaction of $2,715,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 274,955 shares in the company, valued at approximately $29,865,612.10. This represents a 8.33 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.17, for a total value of $119,795.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,951 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,286,635.67. This trade represents a 4.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

WEC has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com raised WEC Energy Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $106.00 to $108.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on WEC Energy Group from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, February 5th. Finally, Barclays upped their target price on WEC Energy Group from $99.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, WEC Energy Group currently has an average rating of "Hold" and a consensus price target of $105.38.

About WEC Energy Group

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.