Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY Boosts Position in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT)

Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY raised its stake in Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT) by 1.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 21,555 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 281 shares during the period. Miller Howard Investments Inc. NY’s holdings in Alliant Energy were worth $1,275,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Larson Financial Group LLC boosted its position in shares of Alliant Energy by 7,083.3% in the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 431 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 425 shares during the period. Northwest Investment Counselors LLC purchased a new stake in Alliant Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Eastern Bank acquired a new stake in shares of Alliant Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $30,000. JNBA Financial Advisors purchased a new position in shares of Alliant Energy during the third quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, ORG Partners LLC increased its holdings in shares of Alliant Energy by 517.0% in the 4th quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 617 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after acquiring an additional 517 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.90% of the company’s stock.

Alliant Energy Trading Down 0.1 %

NASDAQ LNT opened at $59.47 on Monday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.72, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $15.26 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.60. Alliant Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $46.80 and a 52-week high of $64.19. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $59.42 and a 200 day moving average price of $59.32.

Alliant Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, February 18th. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 31st will be issued a $0.5075 dividend. This is a boost from Alliant Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. This represents a $2.03 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 31st. Alliant Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 78.68%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of analysts recently weighed in on LNT shares. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Alliant Energy from $65.00 to $61.00 and set a “market perform” rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their target price on shares of Alliant Energy from $66.00 to $65.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a report on Monday, November 4th. Barclays lowered their price target on Alliant Energy from $61.00 to $59.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, November 6th. Finally, Scotiabank downgraded Alliant Energy from a “sector outperform” rating to a “sector perform” rating and upped their price objective for the company from $64.00 to $67.00 in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $63.39.

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.