Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) Upgraded to “Hold” at Wall Street Zen

Wall Street Zen upgraded shares of Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report released on Sunday,Wall Street Zen reports.

Several other research analysts have also recently issued reports on the company. Mizuho set a $92.00 target price on Xcel Energy and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a research report on Friday, July 31st. Jefferies Financial Group reaffirmed a “buy” rating and set a $99.00 price target (down from $101.00) on shares of Xcel Energy in a research report on Tuesday, October 20th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $85.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, November 2nd. Weiss Ratings upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “buy (b-)” rating to a “buy (b)” rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 3rd. Finally, BTIG Research set a $92.00 target price on Xcel Energy in a research report on Friday, October 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fifteen have given a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Xcel Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $90.71.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

Shares of XEL opened at $79.67 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $74.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $78.29. The firm has a market cap of $51.14 billion, a PE ratio of 18.57, a P/E/G ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a current ratio of 0.69, a quick ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.43. Xcel Energy has a 1-year low of $68.72 and a 1-year high of $84.23.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, October 28th. The company reported $1.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.39 by $0.13. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 11.10% and a net margin of 17.94%. The firm had revenue of $4.17 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.26 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.24 EPS. The company’s revenue for the quarter was up 6.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy will post 4.14 EPS for the current year.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Xcel Energy

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of XEL. Bernicke Wealth Management Ltd. bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $743,000. Aberdeen Group plc increased its holdings in Xcel Energy by 352.9% during the 3rd quarter. Aberdeen Group plc now owns 490,209 shares of the company’s stock worth $34,550,000 after purchasing an additional 381,981 shares during the period. Moors & Cabot Inc. raised its position in Xcel Energy by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. now owns 10,449 shares of the company’s stock valued at $736,000 after purchasing an additional 597 shares in the last quarter. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in Xcel Energy by 1.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 220,670 shares of the company’s stock valued at $15,553,000 after purchasing an additional 3,115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its position in Xcel Energy by 71.4% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 4,886 shares of the company’s stock valued at $344,000 after purchasing an additional 2,035 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

About Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy Inc is a regulated electric and natural gas utility headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Through its operating companies, it generates, purchases, transmits and distributes electricity, and delivers natural gas to residential, commercial and industrial customers.

The company serves customers in eight states: Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas and Wisconsin. Its electric system includes a mix of generation resources, supported by transmission and distribution networks.

Xcel Energy traces its roots to Northern States Power Company, founded in 1909.