Welch Group LLC Increases Position in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Welch Group LLC grew its holdings in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE - Free Report) by 4.1% in the first quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 835,011 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 32,546 shares during the period. NextEra Energy accounts for approximately 2.6% of Welch Group LLC's portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest position. Welch Group LLC's holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $58,827,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in NEE. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 1.0% during the fourth quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 205,297,225 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $14,717,758,000 after acquiring an additional 2,090,538 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of NextEra Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $3,484,197,000. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 3.2% during the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 43,778,016 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $3,129,132,000 after acquiring an additional 1,359,268 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 9.6% during the fourth quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 23,090,426 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,655,353,000 after acquiring an additional 2,030,331 shares during the period. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 4.2% during the fourth quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 14,523,786 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,041,210,000 after acquiring an additional 588,038 shares during the period. 78.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NextEra Energy Price Performance

Shares of NEE stock traded up $1.48 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $70.47. The company's stock had a trading volume of 18,800,654 shares, compared to its average volume of 11,121,064. The business has a fifty day moving average of $68.40 and a 200-day moving average of $70.79. The stock has a market cap of $145.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.91, a P/E/G ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.69. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $61.72 and a twelve month high of $86.10. The company has a current ratio of 0.47, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, April 23rd. The utilities provider reported $0.99 EPS for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of $0.99. The business had revenue of $6.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.58 billion. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 28.06% and a return on equity of 11.85%. The company's quarterly revenue was up 9.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $0.91 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current year.

NextEra Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, June 2nd will be given a $0.5665 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Monday, June 2nd. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. NextEra Energy's dividend payout ratio is presently 84.64%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have recently issued reports on NEE shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 11th. Morgan Stanley reiterated an "overweight" rating on shares of NextEra Energy in a research note on Wednesday, April 23rd. Barclays lowered their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $73.00 to $65.00 and set an "equal weight" rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 29th. Guggenheim restated a "buy" rating and set a $89.00 target price on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Finally, UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $94.00 to $84.00 and set a "buy" rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $83.50.

Insider Activity

In related news, EVP Charles E. Sieving sold 23,684 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.00, for a total transaction of $1,657,880.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 196,817 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $13,777,190. This represents a 10.74% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.20% of the company's stock.

NextEra Energy Profile

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.