HUB Investment Partners LLC Reduces Holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

HUB Investment Partners LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 17.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 5,131 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,107 shares during the quarter. HUB Investment Partners LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $346,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of XEL. Sierra Ocean LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $26,000. Fairway Wealth LLC acquired a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter worth approximately $27,000. Crews Bank & Trust purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $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 valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 504 shares during the last quarter. Finally, First Financial Corp IN purchased a new position in Xcel Energy during the fourth quarter worth approximately $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Down 1.4 %

Shares of NASDAQ XEL opened at $69.11 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 business’s 50 day moving average is $68.21 and its two-hundred day moving average is $67.02. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 52-week low of $51.58 and a 52-week high of $73.38. The firm has a market cap of $39.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.09, a PEG ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 6th. The company reported $0.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 predict that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. 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. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Xcel Energy’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 66.28%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on XEL shares. KeyCorp upped their target price on 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 price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $71.00 to $69.00 and set an “overweight” rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “neutral” rating to an “overweight” rating and raised their price target for the stock from $69.00 to $80.00 in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Xcel Energy from $75.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Thursday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $72.30.

Insider Activity at Xcel Energy

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish bought 2,170 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 11th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 3,007 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

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.