WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC) Shares Sold by Westwood Holdings Group Inc.

Westwood Holdings Group Inc. lowered its stake in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC - Free Report) by 4.5% during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 1,162,258 shares of the utilities provider's stock after selling 55,167 shares during the quarter. WEC Energy Group accounts for about 0.8% of Westwood Holdings Group Inc.'s portfolio, making the stock its 22nd biggest holding. Westwood Holdings Group Inc. owned 0.37% of WEC Energy Group worth $109,299,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in WEC. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 3,828.6% in the 4th quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 275 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $26,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares in the last quarter. Prudent Man Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. Hoey Investments Inc. purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. Human Investing LLC purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. lifted its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 140.8% in the 4th quarter. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. now owns 590 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $55,000 after purchasing an additional 345 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 77.20% of the company's stock.

WEC Energy Group Trading Up 1.3%

Shares of NYSE WEC traded up $1.33 during trading on Friday, hitting $106.82. 1,838,006 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,146,517. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $77.47 and a 12-month high of $111.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 0.43 and a current ratio of 0.60. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $106.96 and a 200-day moving average price of $102.05. The firm has a market capitalization of $34.09 billion, a PE ratio of 22.12, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.46.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC - Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, May 6th. The utilities provider reported $2.27 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.18 by $0.09. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 12.39% and a net margin of 17.75%. The business had revenue of $3.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.81 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.97 EPS. The company's quarterly revenue was up 17.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 5.23 EPS for the current year.

WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th will be paid a $0.8975 dividend. This represents a $3.59 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.36%. This is an increase from WEC Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 14th. WEC Energy Group's payout ratio is 69.59%.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $104.17, for a total transaction of $119,795.50. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 21,951 shares of the company's stock, valued at $2,286,635.67. This represents a 4.98% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, VP Joshua M. Erickson sold 2,155 shares of the company's stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, May 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $107.77, for a total transaction of $232,244.35. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 2,686 shares in the company, valued at approximately $289,470.22. The trade was a 44.52% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 28,305 shares of company stock valued at $3,067,540. Company insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have weighed in on WEC. Scotiabank set a $115.00 price objective on WEC Energy Group and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Wall Street Zen upgraded WEC Energy Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Wednesday, April 16th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and raised their price objective for the company from $106.00 to $108.00 in a report on Tuesday, April 8th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $115.00 to $124.00 and gave the company an "overweight" rating in a report on Wednesday, May 7th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $99.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an "equal weight" rating in a report on Tuesday, April 29th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company's stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $107.13.

WEC Energy Group Profile

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.