Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) Price Target Raised to $73.00 at Barclays

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) had its price target lifted by Barclays from $72.00 to $73.00 in a report issued on Tuesday,Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

XEL has been the subject of several other research reports. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $73.10.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ XEL opened at $71.39 on Tuesday. The stock has a market cap of $41.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.75, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.39. 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 firm’s 50-day simple moving average is $69.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $67.90. Xcel Energy has a fifty-two week low of $51.97 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.87 by ($0.06). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 14.40% and a return on equity of 10.65%. Equities analysts expect that Xcel Energy will post 3.82 EPS for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a $0.57 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This is a boost from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio is 66.28%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Xcel Energy

In other Xcel Energy news, Director Devin W. Stockfish bought 2,170 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the purchase, the director now owns 3,007 shares in the company, valued at $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Fairway Wealth LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $27,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new position in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter worth $34,000. MCF Advisors LLC raised its position in Xcel Energy by 566.3% during the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Corp IN acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at $46,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Company 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.