Xcel Energy Inc. (NASDAQ: XEL) Overview and Analyst Ratings

Company Overview - Xcel Energy Inc. is a major utility company in the United States, providing electricity and natural gas services to millions of customers across several states including Colorado, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Texas, and Wisconsin [1] Analyst Ratings and Price Targets - Morgan Stanley maintains an "Underperform" rating for Xcel Energy, with the stock priced at approximately $76.40, while raising its price target from $79 to $84, indicating a cautious outlook with potential for price appreciation [2] - Weiss Ratings upgraded the stock from a "hold (c+)" to a "buy (b-)" on October 24th, and Mizuho set a price target of $86.00 on January 9th, reflecting a mix of cautious optimism and renewed interest in the company's potential [5] Shareholder Activity - QRG Capital Management Inc. reduced its holdings in Xcel Energy by 20.4%, selling 8,516 shares, while the remaining 33,266 shares are valued at approximately $2.68 million [3] - Twin Peaks Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position valued at $25,000, and ORG Partners LLC increased its stake by 168.4% during the third quarter, indicating varied interest from hedge funds [3] Short Interest and Market Sentiment - Xcel Energy's short interest decreased by 22.1% in December to approximately 25.2 million shares, representing about 4.3% of the company's shares being short sold, which indicates a decrease in bearish sentiment among investors [4][6] - The average daily trading volume of 6.8 million shares results in a days-to-cover ratio of 3.7 days, further reflecting the market's sentiment towards the stock [4]