Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

Key Points

• Short interest in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) has surged by 27.0% in August, with a total of 14,530,000 shares sold short, representing 2.5% of its shares.
• Xcel Energy reported a quarterly EPS of $0.75, beating estimates, with a revenue of $3.29 billion for the quarter, which is up 8.6% year-over-year.
• The company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.57, set to be paid on October 20th, resulting in an annualized dividend of $2.28 and a dividend yield of 3.2%.

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of August. As of August 31st, there was short interest totaling 14,530,000 shares, an increase of 27.0% from the August 15th total of 11,440,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 3,480,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.2 days. Currently, 2.5% of the company's shares are sold short. Currently, 2.5% of the company's shares are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 3,480,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 4.2 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in Xcel Energy by 1.3% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 74,818,158 shares of the company's stock worth $5,296,377,000 after purchasing an additional 986,170 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its position in Xcel Energy by 0.4% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 34,144,257 shares of the company's stock worth $2,344,295,000 after purchasing an additional 126,790 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE raised its position in Xcel Energy by 9.0% during the 2nd quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 26,262,079 shares of the company's stock worth $1,788,448,000 after purchasing an additional 2,157,602 shares during the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Xcel Energy by 31.0% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 25,809,978 shares of the company's stock worth $1,827,090,000 after purchasing an additional 6,109,190 shares during the last quarter. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised its position in Xcel Energy by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 20,811,241 shares of the company's stock worth $1,473,228,000 after purchasing an additional 1,520,092 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company's stock.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

NASDAQ:XEL traded up $0.12 on Thursday, hitting $72.17. The company's stock had a trading volume of 3,050,045 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,178,452. The company has a current ratio of 0.96, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $72.27 and a two-hundred day moving average of $70.24. The firm has a market capitalization of $42.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.35. Xcel Energy has a one year low of $62.12 and a one year high of $74.57.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, July 31st. The company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.66 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $3.29 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.31 billion. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.52% and a net margin of 14.85%.The firm's quarterly revenue was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.54 earnings per share. Xcel Energy has set its FY 2025 guidance at 3.750-3.850 EPS. Research analysts predict that Xcel Energy will post 3.82 earnings per share for the current year.

Xcel Energy Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 20th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, September 15th. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.2%. Xcel Energy's dividend payout ratio is currently 63.16%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts have issued reports on XEL shares. Morgan Stanley reissued an "outperform" rating on shares of Xcel Energy in a research note on Thursday, August 21st. Mizuho boosted their price target on Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a report on Friday, August 1st. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and two have given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy presently has an average rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus price target of $76.80.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the generation, purchasing, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It operates through Regulated Electric Utility, Regulated Natural Gas Utility, and All Other segments. The company generates electricity through wind, nuclear, hydroelectric, biomass, and solar energy sources, as well as coal, natural gas, oil, wood, and refuse-derived fuels.