Welch Group LLC Trims Stake in NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Welch Group LLC trimmed its position in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) by 0.7% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 802,465 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after selling 5,503 shares during the quarter. NextEra Energy makes up about 2.6% of Welch Group LLC’s portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Welch Group LLC’s holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $57,585,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Burkett Financial Services LLC increased its stake in shares of NextEra Energy by 1,229.6% during the fourth quarter. Burkett Financial Services LLC now owns 359 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 332 shares in the last quarter. Reston Wealth Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in NextEra Energy during the fourth quarter worth about $28,000. Quarry LP purchased a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the third quarter valued at approximately $33,000. Finally, Luken Investment Analytics LLC acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth $36,000. 78.72% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

NextEra Energy Stock Down 0.6 %

NYSE:NEE opened at $71.11 on Tuesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.38 and a current ratio of 0.47. The company has a market capitalization of $146.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.58. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a one year low of $53.95 and a one year high of $86.10. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $72.51 and a 200 day simple moving average of $77.14.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.53. NextEra Energy had a net margin of 28.06% and a return on equity of 11.85%. Sell-side analysts predict that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at NextEra Energy

In other NextEra Energy news, EVP Nicole J. Daggs sold 4,007 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Tuesday, November 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.57, for a total transaction of $302,808.99. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 15,792 shares in the company, valued at $1,193,401.44. This trade represents a 20.24 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.18% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research firms recently weighed in on NEE. Evercore ISI dropped their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $84.00 to $79.00 and set an “in-line” rating for the company in a report on Monday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of NextEra Energy from $99.00 to $90.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Scotiabank increased their price objective on NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a research note on Thursday, December 12th. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price target on NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a research report on Monday, January 27th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on NextEra Energy from $93.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, NextEra Energy presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $85.85.

NextEra Energy Company Profile

NextEra Energy, Inc, through its subsidiaries, generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power to retail and wholesale customers in North America. The company generates electricity through wind, solar, nuclear,natural gas, and other clean energy. It also develops, constructs, and operates long-term contracted assets that consists of clean energy solutions, such as renewable generation facilities, battery storage projects, and electric transmission facilities; sells energy commodities; and owns, develops, constructs, manages and operates electric generation facilities in wholesale energy markets.