United Asset Strategies Inc. Raises Stock Holdings in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR)

United Asset Strategies Inc. raised its position in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR) by 245.6% in the fourth quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 134,921 shares of the utilities provider’s stock after buying an additional 95,885 shares during the quarter. Entergy makes up approximately 1.5% of United Asset Strategies Inc.’s portfolio, making the stock its 16th biggest position. United Asset Strategies Inc.’s holdings in Entergy were worth $13,653,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new position in shares of Entergy in the first quarter valued at approximately $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Entergy by 157.1% during the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 270 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 165 shares during the period. Fortis Group Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Entergy during the third quarter worth $32,000. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Entergy during the third quarter worth $32,000. Finally, Harbour Investments Inc. grew its holdings in Entergy by 17,550.0% during the third quarter. Harbour Investments Inc. now owns 353 shares of the utilities provider’s stock worth $33,000 after acquiring an additional 351 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.07% of the company’s stock.

Entergy Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE:ETR traded down $1.00 during mid-day trading on Tuesday, reaching $101.29. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 334,176 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,340,459. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $102.20 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $99.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.57 and a quick ratio of 0.32. Entergy Co. has a twelve month low of $87.10 and a twelve month high of $109.85. The stock has a market cap of $21.60 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.22, a P/E/G ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.71.

Entergy (NYSE:ETR) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.52. Entergy had a return on equity of 10.54% and a net margin of 19.41%. The firm had revenue of $2.72 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.27 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.51 EPS. On average, equities analysts predict that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 EPS for the current year.

Entergy Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 2nd will be paid a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.46%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 1st. Entergy’s dividend payout ratio is currently 40.76%.

Insider Activity

In other news, insider Deanna D. Rodriguez sold 1,500 shares of Entergy stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.23, for a total value of $151,845.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,442 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $348,433.66. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Deanna D. Rodriguez sold 1,500 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $101.23, for a total transaction of $151,845.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 3,442 shares in the company, valued at approximately $348,433.66. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Kimberly Cook-Nelson sold 2,000 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $200,700.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 16,037 shares in the company, valued at $1,609,312.95. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 12,000 shares of company stock valued at $1,226,685 in the last three months. Corporate insiders own 0.54% of the company’s stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on ETR. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Entergy from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an “outperform” rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an “outperform” rating and set a $117.00 price objective on shares of Entergy in a report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Entergy from $108.00 to $107.00 and set an “equal weight” rating on the stock in a report on Monday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company’s stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average price target of $109.78.

About Entergy

Entergy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and retail distribution of electricity in the United States. It generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric power in portions of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas, including the City of New Orleans; and distributes natural gas.