Vertex Planning Partners LLC Buys 414 Shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE)

Vertex Planning Partners LLC raised its stake in shares of NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE:NEE) by 11.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,002 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after purchasing an additional 414 shares during the quarter. Vertex Planning Partners LLC’s holdings in NextEra Energy were worth $287,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other large investors have also made changes to their positions in NEE. Burkett Financial Services LLC lifted its stake in 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 during the period. Sugar Maple Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of NextEra Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Luken Investment Analytics LLC bought a new position in NextEra Energy during the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Midwest Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in NextEra Energy in the fourth quarter valued at about $44,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.72% of the company’s stock.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, CAO James Michael May sold 2,383 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $68.09, for a total transaction of $162,258.47. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 27,427 shares of the company’s stock, valued at $1,867,504.43. This represents a 7.99 % decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.18% of the company’s stock.

NextEra Energy Trading Up 0.5 %

NEE opened at $70.08 on Friday. NextEra Energy, Inc. has a twelve month low of $61.31 and a twelve month high of $86.10. The firm has a market cap of $144.15 billion, a PE ratio of 20.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.45 and a beta of 0.58. 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 firm’s fifty day moving average is $70.68 and its two-hundred day moving average is $75.27.

NextEra Energy (NYSE:NEE) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 24th. The utilities provider reported $0.53 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.53. NextEra Energy had a return on equity of 11.85% and a net margin of 28.06%. Equities research analysts anticipate that NextEra Energy, Inc. will post 3.68 EPS for the current year.

NextEra Energy Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 17th. Investors of record on Friday, February 28th were given a $0.5665 dividend. This is a boost from NextEra Energy’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.52. This represents a $2.27 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.23%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 28th. NextEra Energy’s payout ratio is currently 67.06%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research analysts have recently commented on the company. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their target price on NextEra Energy from $81.00 to $77.00 in a report on Monday, January 27th. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on NextEra Energy from $95.00 to $97.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Thursday, March 20th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Tuesday, March 11th. Scotiabank raised their price target on shares of NextEra Energy from $92.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a “sector outperform” rating in a report on Thursday, December 12th. Finally, Guggenheim reiterated a “buy” rating and issued a $89.00 price objective on shares of NextEra Energy in a research report on Thursday, March 20th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $85.92.

About NextEra Energy

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.