Smartleaf Asset Management LLC Buys 633 Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Smartleaf Asset Management LLC grew its stake in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 8.7% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 7,889 shares of the company’s stock after acquiring an additional 633 shares during the period. Smartleaf Asset Management LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $533,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% in the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Trading Down 0.3 %

NASDAQ:XEL opened at $71.90 on Tuesday. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12 month low of $46.79 and a 12 month high of $73.38. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $67.53 and a 200-day simple moving average of $66.26. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42. The company has a market capitalization of $41.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.90, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.43.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 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 anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm 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 dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on XEL. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their price target for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. KeyCorp raised their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 4th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Finally, Barclays lowered their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus 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.