Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Receives Average Rating of “Hold” from Analysts

Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) have earned a consensus rating of “Hold” from the thirteen research firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month price objective among analysts that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.00.

A number of brokerages recently commented on XEL. Barclays decreased their price target on Xcel Energy from $60.00 to $57.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, October 9th. Mizuho lowered their price objective on Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $62.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, October 24th. Morgan Stanley lowered their target price on Xcel Energy from $61.00 to $58.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, October 25th. Bank of America upgraded Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $58.00 to $66.00 in a report on Friday, October 6th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Xcel Energy from $58.00 to $59.00 and gave the stock a “market perform” rating in a report on Monday, October 30th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Quilter Plc purchased a new position in Xcel Energy in the first quarter worth $255,201,000. Graham Capital Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $241,435,000. Strategic Investment Solutions Inc. IL bought a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $27,000. McCarthy Grittinger Financial Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, ZRC Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 1st quarter valued at $33,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 77.83% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Trading Down 1.6 %

NASDAQ XEL opened at $58.27 on Tuesday. The company has a market cap of $32.15 billion, a PE ratio of 18.44, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.44. Xcel Energy has a 12 month low of $53.73 and a 12 month high of $72.99. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $58.37 and a 200-day moving average of $61.43.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, October 27th. The company reported $1.23 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.03). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 11.75% and a return on equity of 10.44%. The business had revenue of $3.66 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.98 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.18 EPS. The firm’s revenue was down 10.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy will post 3.35 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, October 20th. Investors of record on Friday, September 15th were given a dividend of $0.52 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, September 14th. This represents a $2.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.57%. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is 65.82%.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, purchases, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility, and All Other segments. The company generates electricity through coal, nuclear, natural gas, hydroelectric, solar, biomass, oil, wood/refuse, and wind energy sources.