Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) Shares Sold by Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund

Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund trimmed its holdings in Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ:XEL) by 7.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 16,506 shares of the company’s stock after selling 1,416 shares during the period. Kentucky Retirement Systems Insurance Trust Fund’s holdings in Xcel Energy were worth $1,078,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of XEL. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. TruNorth Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Xcel Energy during the second quarter worth about $30,000. American National Bank purchased a new position in Xcel Energy during the second quarter worth about $32,000. Transcendent Capital Group LLC acquired a new position in Xcel Energy in the 3rd quarter valued at about $33,000. Finally, Kimelman & Baird LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Xcel Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. 78.38% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Xcel Energy Stock Performance

NASDAQ:XEL opened at $69.46 on Monday. Xcel Energy Inc. has a 12 month low of $46.79 and a 12 month high of $69.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 0.93 and a quick ratio of 0.82. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.89 billion, a PE ratio of 20.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.84 and a beta of 0.38. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $64.76 and its 200 day moving average price is $59.25.

Xcel Energy (NASDAQ:XEL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, October 31st. The company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts’ consensus estimates of $1.26 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $3.64 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $3.93 billion. Xcel Energy had a net margin of 13.67% and a return on equity of 10.76%. The company’s revenue was down .5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.23 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Xcel Energy Inc. will post 3.55 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have commented on XEL. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Xcel Energy from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, October 16th. Argus upgraded Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and set a $68.00 target price for the company in a report on Monday, August 26th. Barclays boosted their price target on shares of Xcel Energy from $57.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Monday, October 21st. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Xcel Energy from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $71.00 to $76.00 in a report on Friday, November 1st. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on shares of Xcel Energy from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the stock a “neutral” rating in a report on Friday, September 20th. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Xcel Energy has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus price target of $66.38.

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.