Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) Sets New 12-Month High - Should You Buy?

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) shares reached a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $73.53 and last traded at $71.72, with a volume of 14031 shares trading hands. The stock had previously closed at $72.14.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

XEL has been the topic of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a "neutral" rating to an "overweight" rating and lifted their price target for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Monday, March 31st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $73.00.

Xcel Energy Trading Up 1.5 %

The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.93. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.10 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.09, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.39. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $68.97 and a 200 day simple moving average of $67.53.

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Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share 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%. As a group, research analysts expect that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

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

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish bought 2,170 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,007 shares of the company's stock, valued at $207,272.51. The trade was a 259.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its position in Xcel Energy by 67.4% in the third quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 26,143 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,707,000 after purchasing an additional 10,530 shares during the last quarter. Zacks Investment Management bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $417,000. XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new position in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,080,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 7.0% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 189,954 shares of the company's stock worth $12,404,000 after purchasing an additional 12,477 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio increased its holdings in Xcel Energy by 13.0% in the third quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 247,997 shares of the company's stock valued at $16,194,000 after purchasing an additional 28,508 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

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.