Ieq Capital LLC Purchases 71,798 Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Ieq Capital LLC increased its stake in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 153.2% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 118,653 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 71,798 shares during the period. Ieq Capital LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $8,011,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% during the 4th quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock valued at $40,000 after buying an additional 504 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

NASDAQ:XEL opened at $69.32 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $39.81 billion, a PE ratio of 20.15, a P/E/G ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.43. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $46.79 and a 52 week high of $73.38. 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 business’s 50-day simple moving average is $67.06 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $65.54.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its quarterly earnings results 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%. As a group, analysts forecast that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 6th were paid a $0.5475 dividend. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.16%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, January 6th. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is currently 63.66%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and increased their price target for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. 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 report on Friday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley decreased their target price on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their target price for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, KeyCorp raised their target price on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.91.

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.