Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC Buys 583 Shares of WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC)

Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC lifted its position in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC) by 7.6% in the fourth quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 8,214 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 583 shares during the period. Linden Thomas Advisory Services LLC’s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $691,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Tennessee Valley Asset Management Partners purchased a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth $26,000. Valued Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new position in WEC Energy Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $33,000. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC bought a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 3rd quarter valued at about $38,000. Finally, Bruce G. Allen Investments LLC purchased a new stake in shares of WEC Energy Group in the 4th quarter worth approximately $40,000. Institutional investors own 77.20% of the company’s stock.

WEC Energy Group Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:WEC opened at $82.81 on Friday. WEC Energy Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $75.13 and a 52-week high of $97.78. The stock has a market cap of $26.12 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.62, a PEG ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.40. The business has a fifty day moving average of $80.18 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.43. The company has a quick ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29.

WEC Energy Group (NYSE:WEC) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.02. WEC Energy Group had a net margin of 14.98% and a return on equity of 12.17%. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $2.82 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.80 earnings per share. WEC Energy Group’s revenue was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts expect that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current year.

WEC Energy Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, May 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.835 per share. This represents a $3.34 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, May 13th. WEC Energy Group’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 79.15%.

Insider Transactions at WEC Energy Group

In other news, CEO Scott J. Lauber sold 2,830 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $78.89, for a total value of $223,258.70. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 43,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,402,131.25. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other news, Chairman Gale E. Klappa sold 37,180 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.69, for a total value of $2,925,694.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 274,782 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $21,622,595.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Scott J. Lauber sold 2,830 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $78.89, for a total transaction of $223,258.70. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 43,125 shares in the company, valued at $3,402,131.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 0.34% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their price target on shares of WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a “sector perform” rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Scotiabank dropped their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $96.00 to $90.00 and set a “sector outperform” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered WEC Energy Group from a “neutral” rating to an “underweight” rating and reduced their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $84.00 in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Bank of America reaffirmed an “underperform” rating and set a $78.00 price target (down previously from $84.00) on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, KeyCorp increased their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $96.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Friday, April 19th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $86.64.

About WEC Energy Group

WEC Energy Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides regulated natural gas and electricity, and renewable and nonregulated renewable energy services in the United States. It operates through Wisconsin, Illinois, Other States, Electric Transmission, and Non-Utility Energy Infrastructure segments.