Analysts Set Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) PT at $65.54

Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) has received an average rating of “Hold” from the thirteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and six have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $65.54.

XEL has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. KeyCorp upped their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $69.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Monday, September 30th. Barclays increased their price objective on Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a report on Monday, October 21st. Argus raised Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Monday, August 26th. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Xcel Energy in a research note on Thursday, September 19th. They issued a “hold” rating and a $70.00 price target for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised their price target on Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Xcel Energy

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Graypoint LLC bought a new position in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at $203,000. JNBA Financial Advisors increased its stake in shares of Xcel Energy by 63.4% in the third quarter. JNBA Financial Advisors now owns 4,016 shares of the company’s stock valued at $262,000 after buying an additional 1,558 shares in the last quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Xcel Energy by 12.6% in the third quarter. Concurrent Investment Advisors LLC now owns 9,920 shares of the company’s stock valued at $648,000 after buying an additional 1,113 shares during the last quarter. Catalina Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $215,000. Finally, Avidian Wealth Enterprises LLC bought a new stake in Xcel Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $202,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.38% of the company’s stock.

Xcel Energy Price Performance

XEL stock opened at $66.81 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $37.25 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.94, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.83 and a beta of 0.39. Xcel Energy has a 1 year low of $46.79 and a 1 year high of $67.73. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $63.48 and a 200-day simple moving average of $58.16. 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 posted its quarterly earnings data 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). The business had revenue of $3.03 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.29 billion. Xcel Energy had a return on equity of 10.94% and a net margin of 13.46%. Xcel Energy’s revenue for the quarter was up .2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts predict that Xcel Energy will post 3.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Xcel Energy

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.