Algert Global LLC Sells 4,123 Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Algert Global LLC reduced its stake in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 10.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 35,061 shares of the company's stock after selling 4,123 shares during the period. Algert Global LLC's holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $2,367,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of XEL. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC grew its position in Xcel Energy by 0.4% during the 4th quarter. Wealth Enhancement Advisory Services LLC now owns 388,240 shares of the company's stock worth $25,352,000 after acquiring an additional 1,578 shares during the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. increased its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 40.6% in the fourth quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. now owns 3,027 shares of the company's stock valued at $204,000 after buying an additional 874 shares in the last quarter. Graypoint LLC raised its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 29.1% in the fourth quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 4,019 shares of the company's stock valued at $271,000 after buying an additional 905 shares during the last quarter. Czech National Bank grew its holdings in Xcel Energy by 9.6% during the 4th quarter. Czech National Bank now owns 124,507 shares of the company's stock worth $8,407,000 after acquiring an additional 10,939 shares during the last quarter. Finally, City State Bank grew its holdings in Xcel Energy by 43.0% during the 4th quarter. City State Bank now owns 2,526 shares of the company's stock worth $171,000 after acquiring an additional 760 shares during the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Devin W. Stockfish purchased 2,170 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $68.93 per share, for a total transaction of $149,578.10. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 3,007 shares in the company, valued at approximately $207,272.51. This trade represents a 259.26 % increase in their position. The purchase was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on XEL shares. Barclays upped their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $78.00 price objective on Xcel Energy and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research report on Friday, April 25th. Evercore ISI boosted their target price on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research report on Monday, April 28th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 23rd. Finally, UBS Group lifted their price objective on Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average price target of $76.00.

Xcel Energy Trading Up 0.6 %

NASDAQ:XEL traded up $0.39 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $70.56. The stock had a trading volume of 2,479,332 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,567,723. The business's 50 day moving average is $69.61 and its 200-day moving average is $68.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a current ratio of 0.93. The company has a market cap of $40.70 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.51, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.38. Xcel Energy Inc. has a one year low of $51.97 and a one year high of $73.38.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $0.84 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.95 by ($0.11). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.65% and a net margin of 14.40%. The business had revenue of $3.91 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.93 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.88 EPS. The business's quarterly revenue was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, April 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 14th were paid a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.23%. This is a boost from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 67.06%.

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.