Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank Decreases Holdings in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT)

Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank reduced its position in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT) by 9.8% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 44,071 shares of the company’s stock after selling 4,799 shares during the quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank’s holdings in Alliant Energy were worth $2,261,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the business. Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in Alliant Energy by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,689,427 shares of the company’s stock worth $421,003,000 after purchasing an additional 278,406 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its holdings in shares of Alliant Energy by 4.8% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 2,325,792 shares of the company’s stock valued at $112,685,000 after buying an additional 105,723 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Alliant Energy by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 2,055,089 shares of the company’s stock valued at $99,569,000 after acquiring an additional 41,291 shares during the period. California Public Employees Retirement System raised its stake in Alliant Energy by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 1,600,872 shares of the company’s stock worth $77,562,000 after acquiring an additional 17,521 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. lifted its position in Alliant Energy by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 1,343,631 shares of the company’s stock worth $65,099,000 after acquiring an additional 52,184 shares during the period. 79.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Lisa M. Barton purchased 1,100 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was bought at an average price of $48.56 per share, with a total value of $53,416.00. Following the acquisition, the chief executive officer now owns 36,444 shares in the company, valued at $1,769,720.64. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.31% of the company’s stock.

Alliant Energy Stock Performance

Shares of NASDAQ LNT opened at $49.97 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $12.80 billion, a PE ratio of 17.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.66 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.55. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $48.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $49.53. Alliant Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $45.15 and a 1 year high of $56.26.

Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT) last posted its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The company reported $0.48 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.55 by ($0.07). Alliant Energy had a return on equity of 10.85% and a net margin of 17.46%. The firm had revenue of $961.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $1.25 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.46 earnings per share. On average, research analysts predict that Alliant Energy Co. will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Alliant Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 30th will be issued a $0.48 dividend. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.84%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 29th. Alliant Energy’s payout ratio is currently 69.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

LNT has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Bank of America reduced their price objective on Alliant Energy from $55.00 to $54.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, April 11th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Alliant Energy from $51.00 to $53.00 and gave the company a “market perform” rating in a research note on Monday, April 15th. Barclays reaffirmed an “equal weight” rating and issued a $53.00 price target (up from $50.00) on shares of Alliant Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, Scotiabank cut their price target on Alliant Energy from $57.00 to $53.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a research report on Monday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat, Alliant Energy has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $51.36.

About Alliant Energy

Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a utility holding company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations, and Utility Other. The company, through its subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), primarily generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Iowa; sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; and generates and distributes steam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.