Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. Acquires 22,178 Shares of Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT)

Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. boosted its position in shares of Alliant Energy Co. (NASDAQ:LNT - Free Report) by 34.3% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 86,792 shares of the company's stock after purchasing an additional 22,178 shares during the period. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc.'s holdings in Alliant Energy were worth $4,452,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Financial Freedom LLC acquired a new stake in Alliant Energy during the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. Clear Street Markets LLC grew its holdings in Alliant Energy by 95.3% during the 1st quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 494 shares of the company's stock worth $26,000 after acquiring an additional 241 shares in the last quarter. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA acquired a new position in Alliant Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Alliant Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $42,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Alliant Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $45,000. 79.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Alliant Energy Price Performance

Shares of LNT stock traded down $0.28 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $48.85. 1,820,777 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,747,073. Alliant Energy Co. has a 12 month low of $45.15 and a 12 month high of $56.26. The company has a market cap of $12.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.57, a PEG ratio of 2.60 and a beta of 0.55. The company's 50 day moving average price is $48.65 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $49.53. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.21, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.55.

Alliant Energy (NASDAQ:LNT - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts' consensus estimates of $0.55 by ($0.07). Alliant Energy had a return on equity of 10.85% and a net margin of 17.46%. The company had revenue of $961.00 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.25 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.46 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Alliant Energy Co. will post 3.07 earnings per share for the current year.

Alliant Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were given a $0.48 dividend. This is an increase from Alliant Energy's previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $1.92 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.93%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. Alliant Energy's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 69.06%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on the stock. BMO Capital Markets lowered shares of Alliant Energy from an "outperform" rating to a "market perform" rating and set a $55.00 price target for the company. in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Barclays reaffirmed an "equal weight" rating and issued a $53.00 price target (up from $50.00) on shares of Alliant Energy in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of "Hold" and an average target price of $54.06.

Insider Transactions at Alliant Energy

In related news, CEO Lisa M. Barton acquired 1,100 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were purchased at an average cost of $48.56 per share, with a total value of $53,416.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 36,444 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $1,769,720.64. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Alliant Energy Company Profile

Alliant Energy Corporation operates as a utility holding company that provides regulated electricity and natural gas services in the United States. It operates in three segments: Utility Electric Operations, Utility Gas Operations, and Utility Other. The company, through its subsidiary, Interstate Power and Light Company (IPL), primarily generates and distributes electricity, and distributes and transports natural gas to retail customers in Iowa; sells electricity to wholesale customers in Minnesota, Illinois, and Iowa; and generates and distributes steam in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.