Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) Hits New 52-Week High - Time to Buy?

Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report)'s share price reached a new 52-week high on Monday . The company traded as high as $46.20 and last traded at $45.61, with a volume of 1098742 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $44.71.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets reaffirmed an "outperform" rating on shares of Exelon in a research report on Tuesday, February 4th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Exelon from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Exelon from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a "neutral" rating in a research report on Friday, March 21st. Evercore ISI raised shares of Exelon from an "in-line" rating to an "outperform" rating and increased their price target for the company from $43.00 to $44.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 21st. Finally, Guggenheim upgraded shares of Exelon from a "neutral" rating to a "buy" rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Exelon currently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $45.13.

Exelon Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average price of $43.05 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $40.32. The company has a market capitalization of $46.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 18.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a quick ratio of 0.78 and a current ratio of 0.87.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC - Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.59 by $0.05. Exelon had a net margin of 10.68% and a return on equity of 9.52%. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.60 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th were paid a $0.40 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.51%. This is a positive change from Exelon's previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. Exelon's payout ratio is currently 65.31%.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the business's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total value of $59,353.91. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at $92,134.47. The trade was a 39.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Trading of Exelon

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EXC. Captrust Financial Advisors boosted its holdings in Exelon by 4.2% during the third quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 46,081 shares of the company's stock worth $1,869,000 after buying an additional 1,868 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. boosted its stake in Exelon by 18.5% during the 3rd quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. now owns 17,581 shares of the company's stock worth $714,000 after acquiring an additional 2,741 shares during the last quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Exelon by 2.9% during the third quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 253,792 shares of the company's stock valued at $10,276,000 after purchasing an additional 7,213 shares during the period. Investment Management Corp of Ontario increased its stake in Exelon by 48.8% in the third quarter. Investment Management Corp of Ontario now owns 33,244 shares of the company's stock valued at $1,348,000 after purchasing an additional 10,900 shares in the last quarter. Finally, IHT Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Exelon by 2.2% in the third quarter. IHT Wealth Management LLC now owns 20,117 shares of the company's stock worth $816,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the period. 80.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Exelon Company Profile

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.