BlueStem Wealth Partners LLC Takes Position in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

BlueStem Wealth Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 3,917 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $264,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter worth approximately $26,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC bought a new position in Xcel Energy during the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Crews Bank & Trust acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, MCF Advisors LLC grew its position in 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 acquiring an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Up 1.9 %

XEL opened at $72.10 on Friday. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 1-year low of $46.79 and a 1-year high of $73.38. The business has a 50 day moving average of $67.45 and a 200-day moving average of $66.11. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.96, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.43. The company has a current ratio of 0.93, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued its quarterly 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%. As a group, sell-side 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 declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.16%. This is a positive change from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is currently 63.66%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on XEL shares. KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $79.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Wednesday, December 4th. Barclays cut their target price on Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $72.00 and set an “equal weight” rating for the company in a research note on Friday, November 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, February 7th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and upped their target price for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Thursday, December 12th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $69.91.

Xcel Energy 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.