Mariner LLC Raises Stake in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Mariner LLC raised its stake in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 21.6% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 135,242 shares of the company’s stock after buying an additional 24,024 shares during the quarter. Mariner LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $9,132,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of XEL. Sierra Ocean LLC bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Fairway Wealth LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $27,000. Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter worth $34,000. MCF Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 566.3% in the fourth quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 593 shares of the company’s stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the period. Finally, First Financial Corp IN purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter worth $46,000. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, Director Devin W. Stockfish bought 2,170 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was bought at an average cost of $68.93 per share, for a total transaction of $149,578.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now owns 3,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.09% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of NASDAQ:XEL opened at $70.13 on Friday. 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 stock has a market cap of $40.40 billion, a PE ratio of 20.39, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.39. The company’s fifty day moving average is $69.38 and its 200 day moving average is $67.80. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 52 week low of $51.97 and a 52 week high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.87 by ($0.06). Xcel Energy had a net margin of 14.40% and a return on equity of 10.65%. Research analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a $0.57 dividend. This is a boost from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.25%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 66.28%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on XEL shares. UBS Group upped their target price on Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 1st. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday, February 7th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $72.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, March 31st. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday, March 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Xcel Energy currently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $73.00.

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.