Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Purchased by Van ECK Associates Corp

Van ECK Associates Corp grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 12.0% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 179,013 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 19,230 shares during the period. Van ECK Associates Corp’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $12,086,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth $34,000. MCF Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Corp IN purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

Shares of XEL stock opened at $68.61 on Friday. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $46.79 and a 52 week high of $73.38. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $67.05 and a two-hundred day moving average of $65.27. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $39.40 billion, a PE ratio of 19.94, a P/E/G ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.43.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued its quarterly earnings results 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%. On average, research analysts predict that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Investors of record on Monday, January 6th were paid a $0.5475 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 6th. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.19%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 63.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have weighed in on XEL shares. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and boosted their target price for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. Barclays cut their target price on Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Finally, KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 4th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $69.91.

Xcel Energy 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.