Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Given Average Rating of "Moderate Buy" by Brokerages

Key Points

• Xcel Energy Inc. has been rated as a "Moderate Buy" by eleven rating firms, with eight giving buy recommendations and three recommending a hold.
• The average twelve-month price target for Xcel Energy stock is $76.00, reflecting potential growth from its current trading price of around $74.26.
• The company recently announced a quarterly dividend of $0.57, yielding approximately 3.1% based on an annualized basis.

Shares of Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL - Get Free Report) have been assigned an average rating of "Moderate Buy" from the eleven ratings firms that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat.com reports. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and eight have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokers that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $76.00.

XEL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Wall Street Zen downgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a "hold" rating to a "sell" rating in a research note on Tuesday, May 20th. Mizuho lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Friday, August 1st. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $78.00 to $77.00 and set an "equal weight" rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, June 18th. Finally, Evercore ISI lifted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an "outperform" rating in a research note on Monday, April 28th.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

Xcel Energy stock opened at $74.26 on Monday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $70.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $69.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.48, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.96. Xcel Energy has a fifty-two week low of $59.91 and a fifty-two week high of $74.57. The company has a market capitalization of $43.92 billion, a PE ratio of 20.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.34.

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

Xcel Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, October 20th. Investors of record on Monday, September 15th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. 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 3.1%. Xcel Energy's payout ratio is 63.16%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Clearstead Trust LLC raised its stake in Xcel Energy by 202.2% in the second quarter. Clearstead Trust LLC now owns 417 shares of the company's stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 279 shares in the last quarter. Accent Capital Management LLC bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the first quarter worth approximately $29,000. BankPlus Trust Department bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the first quarter worth approximately $34,000. Finally, Rise Advisors LLC raised its stake in Xcel Energy by 62.9% in the second quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 518 shares of the company's stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 200 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.38% of the company's stock.

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.

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