Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Holdings Boosted by Mizuho Securities USA LLC

Mizuho Securities USA LLC boosted its position in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 50.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 54,425 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 18,274 shares during the period. Mizuho Securities USA LLC’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $3,675,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,417,615 shares of the company’s stock valued at $223,170,000 after acquiring an additional 67,820 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 18,367 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,199,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. GenTrust LLC purchased a new position in shares of Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at $227,000. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Great Valley Advisor Group Inc. now owns 19,982 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,305,000 after acquiring an additional 383 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cerity Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 79.4% during the 3rd quarter. Cerity Partners LLC now owns 272,761 shares of the company’s stock valued at $17,814,000 after acquiring an additional 120,685 shares in the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Insider Transactions at Xcel Energy

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish acquired 2,170 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $68.93 per share, for a total transaction of $149,578.10. Following the acquisition, the director now owns 3,007 shares in the company, valued at $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Down 1.4 %

Xcel Energy stock opened at $69.11 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $39.71 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.09, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.37. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. Xcel Energy Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $51.58 and a fifty-two week high of $73.38. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $68.21 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $67.08.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its 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 return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 14.40%. As a group, analysts forecast that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.57 per share. This is an increase from Xcel Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. Xcel Energy’s payout ratio is presently 66.28%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

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

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.