Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Receives $69.64 Consensus Target Price from Analysts

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) has been assigned a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” from the eleven brokerages that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $69.91.

XEL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Barclays decreased their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 22nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Friday. KeyCorp lifted their price objective on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 22nd.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in XEL. Horizon Investments LLC grew its position in Xcel Energy by 1.9% during the 4th quarter. Horizon Investments LLC now owns 10,390 shares of the company’s stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the last quarter. Carlson Capital Management lifted its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 25.6% during the fourth quarter. Carlson Capital Management now owns 4,837 shares of the company’s stock worth $327,000 after buying an additional 986 shares during the period. Mystic Asset Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter valued at $226,000. Flagship Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter valued at $86,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in Xcel Energy by 36.5% in the 4th quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 4,928 shares of the company’s stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 1,318 shares during the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

XEL stock opened at $66.88 on Thursday. Xcel Energy has a twelve month low of $46.79 and a twelve month high of $73.38. The firm has a market cap of $38.41 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.44, a PEG ratio of 2.54 and a beta of 0.43. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $67.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $65.01. The company has a quick ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.93 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted 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%. Analysts predict that Xcel Energy will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, January 29th. Investors of record on Monday, January 6th were given a dividend of $0.5475 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 6th. This represents a $2.19 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.27%. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is 63.66%.

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.