Greenleaf Trust Buys 1,007 Shares of Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)

Greenleaf Trust boosted its stake in Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) by 11.8% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 9,509 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 1,007 shares during the period. Greenleaf Trust’s holdings in Eversource Energy were worth $587,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in ES. AE Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 21.7% during the 3rd quarter. AE Wealth Management LLC now owns 38,360 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $2,231,000 after acquiring an additional 6,850 shares during the period. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 225.3% during the 3rd quarter. Geneos Wealth Management Inc. now owns 1,015 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $59,000 after acquiring an additional 703 shares during the period. Global Retirement Partners LLC grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Global Retirement Partners LLC now owns 3,525 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $198,000 after acquiring an additional 372 shares during the period. HB Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Eversource Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $253,000. Finally, SG Americas Securities LLC grew its position in shares of Eversource Energy by 7.0% during the 3rd quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 32,723 shares of the utilities provider’s stock valued at $1,903,000 after acquiring an additional 2,131 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 79.99% of the company’s stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on ES shares. Citigroup boosted their price objective on shares of Eversource Energy from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $67.00 to $69.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of Eversource Energy from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their target price for the company from $60.00 to $72.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Argus lowered their target price on shares of Eversource Energy from $85.00 to $68.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, March 25th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Eversource Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 10th. They set a “buy” rating and a $73.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $65.85.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Frederica M. Williams sold 2,714 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.60, for a total transaction of $156,326.40. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,245,369.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other news, insider Frederica M. Williams sold 2,714 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $57.60, for a total transaction of $156,326.40. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,245,369.60. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Linda Dorcena Forry sold 822 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $58.12, for a total transaction of $47,774.64. Following the sale, the insider now owns 10,485 shares in the company, valued at $609,388.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.29% of the company’s stock.

Eversource Energy Stock Performance

Shares of ES stock opened at $60.30 on Tuesday. Eversource Energy has a 52 week low of $52.03 and a 52 week high of $79.92. The company has a current ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $58.69 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $57.87.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The utilities provider reported $0.95 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.97 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $2.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3 billion. Eversource Energy had a positive return on equity of 9.92% and a negative net margin of 3.71%. The firm’s revenue for the quarter was down 11.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $0.92 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Eversource Energy will post 4.52 EPS for the current year.

Eversource Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th were given a dividend of $0.715 per share. This represents a $2.86 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.74%. This is a boost from Eversource Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.68. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 4th. Eversource Energy’s dividend payout ratio is currently -226.98%.

Eversource Energy Company Profile

Eversource Energy, a public utility holding company, engages in the energy delivery business. The company operates through Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution segments. It is involved in the transmission and distribution of electricity; solar power facilities; and distribution of natural gas.