NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) Given Average Rating of “Moderate Buy” by Analysts

Shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) have received an average recommendation of “Moderate Buy” from the fourteen ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. The average twelve-month price objective among brokerages that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $85.85.

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. Scotiabank lifted their price objective on NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $99.00 to $90.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Evercore ISI decreased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $84.00 to $79.00 and set an “in-line” rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on NextEra Energy from $93.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday, January 23rd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th.

Insider Activity

In related news, CAO James Michael May sold 2,383 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $68.09, for a total value of $162,258.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 27,427 shares in the company, valued at $1,867,504.43. The trade was a 7.99 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of NEE. Norges Bank bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $3,484,197,000. Boston Partners bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $244,169,000. Two Sigma Advisers LP bought a new position in NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth approximately $240,269,000. Amundi raised its position in NextEra Energy by 49.8% in the 4th quarter. Amundi now owns 9,543,552 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $676,008,000 after purchasing an additional 3,172,405 shares during the last quarter. Finally, California Public Employees Retirement System raised its position in NextEra Energy by 46.7% in the 4th quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 7,910,346 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $567,093,000 after purchasing an additional 2,517,369 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 78.72% of the company’s stock.

NextEra Energy Stock Down 0.4 %

NEE stock opened at $70.97 on Thursday. NextEra Energy has a twelve month low of $53.95 and a twelve month high of $86.10. The company has a market cap of $145.99 billion, a PE ratio of 21.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.58. The business’s 50-day simple moving average is $70.47 and its 200 day simple moving average is $76.42. The company has a quick ratio of 0.38, a current ratio of 0.47 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 28.06%. On average, research analysts anticipate that NextEra Energy will post 3.68 earnings per share for the current year.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 17th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 28th will be paid a $0.5665 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 28th. This represents a $2.27 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.19%. This is a boost from NextEra Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. NextEra Energy’s payout ratio is 67.06%.

NextEra Energy Company Profile

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.