Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) Reaches New 12-Month High – Still a Buy?

Exelon Co. (NASDAQ:EXC) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $43.48 and last traded at $43.46, with a volume of 2057343 shares. The stock had previously closed at $43.17.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. Evercore ISI raised shares of Exelon from an “in-line” rating to an “outperform” rating and increased their price target for the company from $43.00 to $44.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 21st. Scotiabank upped their price target on Exelon from $42.00 to $44.00 and gave the company a “sector perform” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley cut their price objective on Exelon from $46.00 to $44.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, November 22nd. Barclays reduced their price objective on shares of Exelon from $44.00 to $42.00 and set an “overweight” rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 22nd. Finally, Guggenheim raised shares of Exelon from a “neutral” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Exelon presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $43.38.

Exelon Stock Up 1.1 %

The firm has a market cap of $43.88 billion, a PE ratio of 17.82, a PEG ratio of 2.82 and a beta of 0.56. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $39.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $39.05. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.61, a current ratio of 0.87 and a quick ratio of 0.78.

Exelon (NASDAQ:EXC) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 12th. The company reported $0.64 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.59 by $0.05. Exelon had a net margin of 10.68% and a return on equity of 9.52%. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.60 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that Exelon Co. will post 2.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Exelon Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 24th will be issued a $0.40 dividend. This is a positive change from Exelon’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.38. The ex-dividend date is Monday, February 24th. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.67%. Exelon’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 65.31%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Exelon

In other news, EVP Colette D. Honorable sold 1,463 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction on Monday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.57, for a total value of $59,353.91. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 2,271 shares in the company, valued at $92,134.47. This trade represents a 39.18 % decrease in their position. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.10% of the company’s stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Exelon

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in EXC. Millstone Evans Group LLC bought a new stake in Exelon during the fourth quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Stephens Consulting LLC grew its position in shares of Exelon by 78.1% during the 4th quarter. Stephens Consulting LLC now owns 782 shares of the company’s stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 343 shares during the period. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC bought a new stake in shares of Exelon during the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Brown Lisle Cummings Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Exelon in the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Finally, Crews Bank & Trust bought a new position in Exelon in the 4th quarter worth $34,000. 80.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Exelon Company Profile

Exelon Corporation, a utility services holding company, engages in the energy distribution and transmission businesses in the United States and Canada. The company is involved in the purchase and regulated retail sale of electricity and natural gas, transmission and distribution of electricity, and distribution of natural gas to retail customers.