Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) PT Raised to $66.00 at Wells Fargo & Company

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) had its target price increased by stock analysts at Wells Fargo & Company from $63.00 to $66.00 in a report issued on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an “equal weight” rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company‘s price target indicates a potential upside of 4.35% from the company’s previous close.

A number of other research analysts also recently issued reports on XEL. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of Xcel Energy in a research report on Thursday, September 19th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $70.00 price objective on the stock. KeyCorp upped their price target on Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Argus raised Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Monday, August 26th. UBS Group increased their price target on Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a research note on Friday, September 20th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on Xcel Energy from $68.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, September 25th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $64.57.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

Xcel Energy stock opened at $63.25 on Wednesday. Xcel Energy has a fifty-two week low of $46.79 and a fifty-two week high of $65.64. The company has a market capitalization of $35.14 billion, a PE ratio of 18.99, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 0.39. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $62.49 and a 200-day moving average price of $57.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.97.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, August 1st. The company reported $0.54 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.57 by ($0.03). Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.46%. The business had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.29 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.52 earnings per share. The firm’s revenue was up .2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Xcel Energy will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current year.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. SageView Advisory Group LLC purchased a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $655,000. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 8.1% in the fourth quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 10,711 shares of the company’s stock valued at $669,000 after purchasing an additional 802 shares during the last quarter. Nomura Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $688,000. Moody National Bank Trust Division lifted its position in Xcel Energy by 7.5% during the first quarter. Moody National Bank Trust Division now owns 3,820 shares of the company’s stock worth $205,000 after buying an additional 266 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in Xcel Energy by 6.6% during the first quarter. CWM LLC now owns 33,085 shares of the company’s stock worth $1,778,000 after buying an additional 2,060 shares during the last quarter. 78.38% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Xcel Energy Company Profile

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.