Zacks Research Brokers Increase Earnings Estimates for WEC

WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC - Free Report) - Equities research analysts at Zacks Research increased their Q1 2025 earnings per share estimates for shares of WEC Energy Group in a research note issued on Tuesday, February 25th. Zacks Research analyst R. Department now forecasts that the utilities provider will post earnings of $2.24 per share for the quarter, up from their previous forecast of $2.23. The consensus estimate for WEC Energy Group's current full-year earnings is $5.23 per share. Zacks Research also issued estimates for WEC Energy Group's Q2 2025 earnings at $0.80 EPS, Q3 2025 earnings at $0.81 EPS, Q4 2025 earnings at $1.37 EPS, Q2 2026 earnings at $0.86 EPS, Q4 2026 earnings at $1.57 EPS and FY2027 earnings at $5.98 EPS.

Other research analysts have also issued research reports about the company. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on WEC Energy Group from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Barclays upgraded WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $89.00 to $93.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 2nd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 5th. Bank of America upgraded WEC Energy Group from an "underperform" rating to a "neutral" rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $98.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their target price on WEC Energy Group from $108.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat, WEC Energy Group presently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $101.88.

Remove Ads

WEC Energy Group Stock Performance

Shares of WEC traded up $1.13 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $106.73. The stock had a trading volume of 2,614,654 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,209,188. The company has a market cap of $33.91 billion, a PE ratio of 22.10, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.49. The company's fifty day simple moving average is $98.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $96.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.43, a current ratio of 0.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37. WEC Energy Group has a fifty-two week low of $76.78 and a fifty-two week high of $107.14.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.49 by ($0.06). WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 12.39% and a net margin of 17.75%. The business had revenue of $2.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.50 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.10 earnings per share. WEC Energy Group's revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year.

WEC Energy Group Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Saturday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 14th were given a dividend of $0.835 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 14th. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.13%. WEC Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is currently 73.91%.

Insider Activity at WEC Energy Group

In other WEC Energy Group news, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of the business's stock in a transaction on Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.17, for a total transaction 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. The trade was a 4.98 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.34% of the company's stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in WEC. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position in WEC Energy Group by 3,828.6% during the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 275 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 268 shares during the period. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Coastline Trust Co bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. Hoey Investments Inc. bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 3rd quarter worth $45,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.20% of the company's stock.

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.