Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) Rating Increased to Hold at StockNews.com

StockNews.com upgraded shares of Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note released on Monday.

A number of other equities analysts have also weighed in on the stock. Mizuho upgraded shares of Exelon from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $36.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Seaport Res Ptn downgraded Exelon from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Exelon from $38.00 to $36.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 19th. TheStreet downgraded shares of Exelon from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Exelon from $36.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.09.

Exelon Trading Up 0.7 %

NASDAQ:EXC opened at $37.57 on Monday. Exelon has a 52 week low of $33.35 and a 52 week high of $43.71. The stock has a market cap of $37.55 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.12, a PEG ratio of 2.67 and a beta of 0.53. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $35.62 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.44. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.81 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.56.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported $0.60 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.58 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $5.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.87 billion. Exelon had a net margin of 10.72% and a return on equity of 9.40%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 15.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.43 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Exelon will post 2.41 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Monday, March 4th were given a dividend of $0.38 per share. This is a positive change from Exelon’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.36. This represents a $1.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.05%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 1st. Exelon’s dividend payout ratio is currently 65.24%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Exelon

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Heritage Wealth Advisors grew its position in shares of Exelon by 247.5% in the fourth quarter. Heritage Wealth Advisors now owns 695 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 495 shares during the period. Antonetti Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Exelon by 98.8% in the third quarter. Antonetti Capital Management LLC now owns 805 shares of the company’s stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. Addison Advisors LLC raised its stake in Exelon by 50.3% during the third quarter. Addison Advisors LLC now owns 825 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 276 shares during the period. Fortis Group Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Exelon in the 3rd quarter valued at $31,000. Finally, GHP Investment Advisors Inc. lifted its position in Exelon by 263.8% in the fourth quarter. GHP Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 844 shares of the company’s stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 612 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.92% of the company’s stock.

Exelon Company Profile

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.