Ensign Peak Advisors Inc Purchases 74,562 Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL)

Ensign Peak Advisors Inc lifted its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Free Report) by 28.5% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 336,433 shares of the company's stock after buying an additional 74,562 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc owned about 0.06% of Xcel Energy worth $22,716,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. Dakota Wealth Management grew its holdings in Xcel Energy by 0.7% during the fourth quarter. Dakota Wealth Management now owns 23,130 shares of the company's stock worth $1,562,000 after purchasing an additional 151 shares during the period. Rothschild Investment LLC lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 26.0% during the fourth quarter. Rothschild Investment LLC now owns 731 shares of the company's stock worth $49,000 after acquiring an additional 151 shares during the last quarter. GenTrust LLC lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 4.5% during the fourth quarter. GenTrust LLC now owns 3,602 shares of the company's stock worth $243,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the last quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 23.2% during the fourth quarter. Creative Financial Designs Inc. ADV now owns 827 shares of the company's stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Integris Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 2.6% during the fourth quarter. Integris Wealth Management LLC now owns 6,323 shares of the company's stock worth $427,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Xcel Energy Trading Up 0.8%

Shares of Xcel Energy stock traded up $0.53 during trading on Tuesday, hitting $68.31. The company's stock had a trading volume of 5,328,124 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,575,867. 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 52 week low of $51.97 and a 52 week high of $73.38. The stock has a market cap of $39.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 0.38. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $69.61 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $68.60.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, April 24th. The company reported $0.84 earnings per share 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 during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.93 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.88 EPS. The business's revenue for the quarter was up 7.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.82 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Xcel Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Sunday, April 20th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.34%. This is a boost from Xcel Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is 67.06%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Xcel Energy

In related news, Director Devin W. Stockfish acquired 2,170 shares of the business's stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $68.93 per share, with a total value of $149,578.10. Following the transaction, 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 ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.09% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 1st. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $72.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 22nd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on shares of Xcel Energy from $69.00 to $73.00 and gave the company a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company set a $78.00 target price on shares of Xcel Energy and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Friday, April 25th. Finally, Morgan Stanley set a $79.00 target price on shares of Xcel Energy and gave the stock an "outperform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $76.00.

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.