Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) Given New $77.00 Price Target at UBS Group

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) had its price objective hoisted by UBS Group from $73.00 to $77.00 in a research report report published on Tuesday morning,Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the stock.

A number of other brokerages also recently issued reports on XEL. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Xcel Energy from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and raised their price target for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Monday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $73.00.

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Xcel Energy Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of XEL traded up $1.24 during trading hours on Tuesday, hitting $72.14. The company had a trading volume of 3,572,202 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,569,493. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.45 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.97, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $68.81 and a 200-day moving average price of $67.39. Xcel Energy has a 52-week low of $51.97 and a 52-week high of $73.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.93.

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

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced 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 is a boost from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Xcel Energy

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish acquired 2,170 shares of the firm's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,007 shares of the company's stock, valued at $207,272.51. This represents a 259.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Versant Capital Management Inc boosted its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 130.8% in the first quarter. Versant Capital Management Inc now owns 2,006 shares of the company's stock worth $142,000 after purchasing an additional 1,137 shares during the period. First Hawaiian Bank boosted its holdings in Xcel Energy by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. First Hawaiian Bank now owns 10,257 shares of the company's stock worth $726,000 after buying an additional 776 shares during the period. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB increased its stake in Xcel Energy by 11.5% in the 1st quarter. MassMutual Private Wealth & Trust FSB now owns 2,024 shares of the company's stock worth $143,000 after buying an additional 209 shares in the last quarter. 111 Capital bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter valued at about $430,000. Finally, Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 399,308 shares of the company's stock valued at $26,961,000 after acquiring an additional 12,646 shares in the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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.