Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. Raises Holdings in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)

Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. lifted its holdings in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) by 22.1% during the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 916,825 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 165,685 shares during the quarter. Duff & Phelps Investment Management Co. owned 0.26% of Eversource Energy worth $56,586,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Eversource Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Bfsg LLC purchased a new position in shares of Eversource Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $31,000. UMB Bank n.a. raised its stake in shares of Eversource Energy by 130.9% during the 3rd quarter. UMB Bank n.a. now owns 642 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $37,000 after buying an additional 364 shares during the last quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 40.4% in the 3rd quarter. MV Capital Management Inc. now owns 716 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 206 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CVA Family Office LLC acquired a new stake in Eversource Energy in the 4th quarter valued at about $43,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.99% of the company’s stock.

Eversource Energy Trading Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE ES traded up $0.13 during midday trading on Tuesday, reaching $60.59. 461,097 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,862,077. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. Eversource Energy has a 52-week low of $52.03 and a 52-week high of $78.64. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $58.97 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $57.99.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.97 by ($0.02). Eversource Energy had a negative net margin of 3.71% and a positive return on equity of 9.92%. The company had revenue of $2.69 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.92 earnings per share. The company’s revenue was down 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Eversource Energy will post 4.51 EPS for the current year.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th were issued a dividend of $0.715 per share. This is an increase from Eversource Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, March 4th. This represents a $2.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.72%. Eversource Energy’s payout ratio is -226.98%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages have commented on ES. Barclays lowered their target price on Eversource Energy from $66.00 to $61.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Citigroup lifted their price objective on Eversource Energy from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Argus cut their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $85.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, March 25th. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Eversource Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $73.00 price target on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $65.85.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Eversource Energy news, insider Linda Dorcena Forry sold 822 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction on Friday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $58.12, for a total transaction of $47,774.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 10,485 shares in the company, valued at approximately $609,388.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Linda Dorcena Forry sold 822 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.12, for a total value of $47,774.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,485 shares in the company, valued at $609,388.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Frederica M. Williams sold 2,714 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.60, for a total value of $156,326.40. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,245,369.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.29% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Eversource Energy Company Profile

Eversource Energy, a public utility holding company, engages in the energy delivery business. The company operates through Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution segments. It is involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity; solar power facilities; and distribution of natural gas.