MML Investors Services LLC Increases Holdings in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC)

MML Investors Services LLC raised its position in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC - Free Report) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 196,880 shares of the utilities provider's stock after buying an additional 3,781 shares during the quarter. MML Investors Services LLC owned about 0.06% of WEC Energy Group worth $18,515,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its stake in WEC Energy Group by 1.9% in the 4th quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 83,727 shares of the utilities provider's stock valued at $7,874,000 after buying an additional 1,540 shares during the period. Ossiam acquired a new position in shares of WEC Energy Group during the 4th quarter worth $283,000. Norinchukin Bank The grew its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 12.7% during the 4th quarter. Norinchukin Bank The now owns 15,221 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $1,431,000 after purchasing an additional 1,712 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 2.6% during the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,179,451 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $110,917,000 after purchasing an additional 29,438 shares during the period. Finally, Forum Financial Management LP grew its stake in shares of WEC Energy Group by 26.2% during the 4th quarter. Forum Financial Management LP now owns 5,816 shares of the utilities provider's stock worth $547,000 after purchasing an additional 1,206 shares during the period. 77.20% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Insider Transactions at WEC Energy Group

In other news, Director Gale E. Klappa sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.62, for a total transaction of $2,715,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 274,955 shares in the company, valued at $29,865,612.10. This represents a 8.33 % decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, Director Ulice Payne, Jr. sold 1,150 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $104.17, for a total transaction of $119,795.50. Following the transaction, the director now owns 21,951 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,286,635.67. The trade was a 4.98 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.50% of the company's stock.

WEC Energy Group Trading Down 1.1 %

NYSE:WEC traded down $1.22 on Friday, reaching $107.69. The stock had a trading volume of 2,077,779 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,147,767. The company has a market cap of $34.36 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.30, a P/E/G ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.44. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 0.60 and a quick ratio of 0.43. The firm's fifty day moving average is $106.38 and its two-hundred day moving average is $100.72. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $77.47 and a 12-month high of $111.00.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC - Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 4th. The utilities provider reported $1.43 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $1.49 by ($0.06). The firm had revenue of $2.28 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $2.50 billion. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 17.75% and a return on equity of 12.39%. WEC Energy Group's revenue for the quarter was up 3.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.10 earnings per share. Equities analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 5.23 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, June 1st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.8975 per share. This is a positive change from WEC Energy Group's previous quarterly dividend of $0.84. This represents a $3.59 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.33%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 14th. WEC Energy Group's dividend payout ratio is presently 73.91%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on WEC shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a "market perform" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $112.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to a "neutral" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $106.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Tuesday, April 8th. StockNews.com raised shares of WEC Energy Group from a "sell" rating to a "hold" rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 16th. Finally, Barclays raised shares of WEC Energy Group from an "underweight" rating to an "equal weight" rating and increased their price objective for the company from $89.00 to $93.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 2nd. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, WEC Energy Group currently has a consensus rating of "Hold" and an average price target of $104.38.

WEC Energy Group Company 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.