Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) PT Raised to $66.00

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) had its target price lifted by KeyCorp from $65.00 to $66.00 in a report issued on Monday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the stock.

XEL has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Argus upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $68.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $63.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 2nd. Finally, Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $62.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, August 23rd. Seven research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $63.54.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

Shares of XEL stock opened at $64.06 on Monday. Xcel Energy has a 1 year low of $46.79 and a 1 year high of $64.95. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.97. The firm has a market cap of $35.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.24, a PEG ratio of 2.81 and a beta of 0.38. The stock’s 50-day moving average is $59.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $55.76.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.03). The firm had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.29 billion. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.46%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $0.52 EPS. Analysts predict that Xcel Energy will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, October 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, September 13th will be paid a dividend of $0.548 per share. This is a positive change from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, September 13th. This represents a $2.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.42%. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is 65.77%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Heritage Wealth Advisors purchased a new position in Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $25,000. Tidemark LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. American National Bank acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Quarry LP purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 78.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

About Xcel Energy

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.